QuikTrip approved for Parkville intersection
A QuikTrip has been approved for the southeast corner of 45 and 9 highways, which will bring development to a corner of this intersection in Parkville that has remained vacant for decades.
The store is scheduled to open in the spring of 2016.
A 5,858-square-foot convenience market and 18 gas pumps, situated on a 2.65-acre lot, have been approved, according to a city report.
Plans for a QuikTrip at this location began to take shape in 2013, said Sean Ackerson Assistant City Administrator / Community Development Director. The original plans also included a McDonald’s restaurant to the east of the QT.
However, some area neighbors expressed concern that the addition of a McDonald’s would create too much noise and traffic, Ackerson said. QuikTrip made changes to its plans and “the McDonald’s (part of the plan) went away.”
The board of aldermen approved the QT at its meeting on May 5. Riss Lake developer and president of the Homeowners Association, Don Julian, spoke at the meeting.
Julian said he wanted a signal installed at Julian Drive and Highway 45.
He said in a later interview that several residents think making a left-turn onto the highway will be dangerous without a signal once the QT is operating.
Julian Drive is an entrance to the Riss Lake subdivision, which has about 800 residents.
Michael Porter, lead pastor of the Fellowship of Grace Church, which is under contract with QuikTrip to sell some of its land as a site for the store, said he does not think a traffic signal will be necessary.
He said the QuikTrip will increase visibility for the church because the store/gas station will attract more people to the area.
The city conditioned its approval on a request that QT “explore issues in relation to the intersection” at Julian Drive and Highway 45, Ackerson said, adding only MoDOT has the authority to approve a signal.
He said the city also conditioned its approval on QT’s participation in a financial improvement district to help pay for traffic improvements in the Highway 9 corridor west of the site.
The intersection needs some improvements and the construction of a QT will add to this need, he said.
Patricia Jensen, attorney with the White Goss law firm, spoke on behalf of QT at the board meeting.
Jensen said QuikTrip is pleased to open this Generation 3 store, which will have expanded food and drink offerings. QuikTrip is a privately held company with 700 stores in 11 states.
The plans include a buffer of 235 feet between the store and the nearest residential property, Ackerson said. The store will set 10 to 12 feet below a landscaped berm.
The highest point of the building is 22 feet, so looking out from the backyard of one of the neighboring houses, no more than half of the building will be visible, he said. This will screen car headlights, parking and the dumpster from the residents’ view.
This story was originally published June 10, 2015 at 12:26 PM with the headline "QuikTrip approved for Parkville intersection."