Creve Coeur City Council Election Preview: Ward Three

Robert Hoffman was appointed in 2010 to the Ward Three seat vacated when David Kassander resigned from Creve Coeur City Council last year. He is running unopposed in a bid to serve the rest of the unexpired term. He is a former member of the city Planning and Zoning Commission and also a former member of the city Police and Safety Committee. Creve Coeur Patch recently sat down with him to talk about the biggest issues facing his ward, the future of plans for a so-called "downtown Creve Coeur", Transportation Development Districts (TDDs) and other issues.

The Biggest Issue Facing Your Ward

In a word: Zoning.

“I think zoning is an issue. I think that Commercial interests are very important to the city to maintain the high level of services, but they belong in commercially zoned areas, not in residential areas.”

Hoffman said residents in Ward Three are concerned about what will happen to the "Thompson Center" property on Ladue Rd, among other areas. At the time of the interview for this profile, Delmar Gardens had not yet gone public with renewed plans for the property. The company has since indicated it hopes to present detais to city planners by May for some form of residential development at the site. Hoffman says residents are concerned about traffic on Ladue Road, which he said is "200 percent" of what it should be, especially during rush hour periods.

Transportation Development Districts

While city council does appoint members to the boards of Transportation Development Districts, or TDDs, which oversee special taxation districts to fund road and infrastructure improvements, Hoffman views it as an issue of taxation without representation.

"There comes a time when the businesses have to pay for their improvements, not the city, and not the taxpayers. If I have to improve something in my own business I have to pay for it. I can’t go to the city and say I’d really like new lighting and signage, would you approve a CID or a TDD so I can put new lights on my private property and I think there has to be a distinction between what is good for the public and what is meant for private business to support. There’s a line there and I think that we have to be careful not to cross that line.”

Hoffman said the city should not spend more taxpayer money on the Olive Blvd. TDD without voter approval. The project has been plagued by delays and cost overruns among other issues for a period of years.

Vision of Downtown Creve Coeur

Hoffman said he supports a downtown plan which is pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. The Chicago native said he wants a downtown where people can sit and eat lunch, or drive to the area and ride a bike.

In The Future

Hoffman said he would seek out more regional solutions for city services, along the lines of the newly-formed West Central Dispatch Center, which is estimated to save the city more than $100,000 annually by merging police dispatching services with Town and Country and Frontenac. The former Police and Safety Committee Chair would also like to see quarterly honors for a member of the police department moved from that committee to city council meetings to better recognize the risk and sacrifices made by law enforcement.