I am writing this petition on behalf of many concerned residents. 

Board Bill 249 was passed Friday, February 6th, 2014.  This is one of the first steps in making way for a new QuikTrip at the corner of Jefferson and Chouteau.  The bill will soon go to the Mayor for his review - it will likely be on his desk on Monday (Feb. 9th).  Let's see how many signatures we can get, as soon as possible, to prove to the Mayor that his residents do not want this.  If you are not already aware of the negative impact this QT will have, please see outline below.

The image attached to this petition shows the intersection that the QT will inhabit.  For anyone traveling south on Jefferson, or exiting to the south from 64/40, this is the gateway to a stretch of historic neighborhoods - the entrance to Lafayette is the first, directly to the left in the photo (the east side of Jefferson).  We owe it to Lafayette, and all of the others, to not immediately be greeted by a massive gas station and parking lot.  The vacant lot, to the right of the buildings you see in the photo, used to be filled with buildings that were demolished - for no reason. 

If you need further reason to oppose this process:

1. SAFETY. A gas station on this corner with additional curb cuts will be extremely dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. MoDOT will be installing a road diet on Chouteau this year which will decrease the number of vehicular travel lanes from four to three which includes a middle turn lane. Bike lanes will be added to both sides of the street. This fall, bike and pedestrian counts were done at the intersection of Jefferson and Chouteau; it’s estimated that over 7,000 cyclists and over 56,000 pedestrians traverse this intersection each year. Adding a gas station will make vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian travel even more dangerous.

2. HISTORIC ASSETS. This gas station would demolish historic buildings and further diminish the urban quality of Chouteau Avenue. The Gate District has limited historic buildings remaining due to the demolition undertaken along Chouteau and within the Gate District neighborhood. The buildings at right would be demolished. Rather than throw our hands in the air and let the last few buildings with character be torn down, let’s stand up for the few that remain.

3. DUPLICATIVE. There are three gas stations within a half mile in each direction of this proposed QuikTrip (except for the west, where in 1.6 miles there is another QuikTrip. There’s also a Quik Trip 1.6 miles to the south). This gas station is certainly not a needed area amenity. Building more gas stations on our major roads when A) people are driving fewer miles per year each year for the past decade and B) the City's population is flat just doesn't make sense. We're overbuilding, and our grandchildren will pay for it when gasoline is no longer available and we have a vacant gas station on every corner.

4. NEIGHBORHOOD INTEGRITY. This gas station will serve as a gateway to Lafayette Square, one of our premiere urban neighborhoods. Gas stations have dominated most of our major intersections in the City, reducing walkability with their numerous curb cuts, increasing air pollution, trash, noise, traffic, and even crime. This site is in the Gate District neighborhood which has dozens of vacant parcels; the Gate District neighborhood needs quality, dense, urban development that will attract new residents.

5. WASTED TAX DOLLARS. Over $42,000 of Environmental Protection Agency grant funding to clean up an old gas station that is located on one of the parcels QuikTrip is acquiring. Cleaning up an old gas station just to build a new gas station is a complete waste of taxpayer resources.