The Wright City Board of Aldermen approved a site plan for a proposed retail center at the corner of Roelker Road and Veterans Memorial Parkway at their Dec. 19 meeting. The site plan had been postponed from the Nov. 25 meeting due to concerns from the Wright City Fire Protection District. 

Originally, Assistant Fire Chief Josh Riebe was concerned that firetrucks would not be able to exit the property once they entered. He requested an additional entrance be added to the parking lot, a request that was obliged by the developer. 

Following its approval from the board, the strip mall will occupy an otherwise undeveloped tract of land on the east side of the corner of Roelker Road and Veterans Memorial Parkway. 

Cliff Heitmann, with Bax Engineering, was present at the meeting to discuss the development and provided some additional information about the building. 

“What we’re proposing to do with this development would be to remove that existing gravel and concrete and asphalt pavement, which is pretty much edge to edge on the property, In order to construct an 18,000-square-foot multi-tenant retail center,” said Heitmann. “. “

According to Heitmann the proposed retail center would have space for a maximum of 16 tenants, although he said some tenants may want more than one of the 16 available spaces.

It would also include a parking lot that would hold up to 81 cars.  

Heitmann also said the developer had previously requested, and the board had approved, several variances to required setbacks, parking space requirements and a right-of-way deduction due to the unique shape of the lot. 

Board members were concerned with whether the new building would include sidewalks, as well as its proximity to the city’s right-of-way. 

Heitmann assured them that while there are no existing sidewalks connecting to the property, there would be sidewalks around the building when it was completed. 

He also said that, because of the unique shape of the lot, not only would they be avoiding the city’s right-of-way, but they would also be landscaping property that was previously paved. 

“We’ve got about 10 feet of green space between that area that now is currently actually asphalt and pavement and gravel, so that lot right now is edge to edge, property line to property line, so we’re actually creating some green space there,” said Heitmann. 

The board approved the site plan unanimously and work will proceed on the development.