Council approves zoning changes for new Super One store

In a year or so, Superior could have another Super One Store adjacent to U.S. Highways 2/53 in the East End neighborhood.

Superior’s City Council on Tuesday approved zoning changes and street and alley closures that will allow Miner’s Inc. to move ahead with plans for the new store.

John Geissler, Miner’s architect, said the company is finalizing its plans for the store, which is expected to go out for bid in the spring with construction to get underway in early summer and nearing completion around this time in 2013.

After meeting with residents in the neighborhood and discussing concerns such as increased traffic, the only people who came forward to address the council during a public hearing favored the project.

“I see a lot of positives going on out there,” said Jim Kehoe, owner of the McDonald’s franchise across the highway from the proposed Super One site.

Kehoe said he is always concerned about the safety of his customers and with the city planning to install traffic signals at 22nd Avenue East and other measures the city will take concerning traffic in the area, he believes good thought processes are involved in the project.

According to Port and Planning Director Jason Serck, currently about 20,000 cars a day travel the highway, and even without Super One at the 22nd Avenue East intersection, the area almost meets state criteria warranting a traffic signal. He said he has little doubt it will meet that criteria once the new 60,000-square-foot store opens.

Plans include installing traffic signals at the intersection; something Kehoe said would enhance safety for people in the area.

“I think that’s being planned very well,” Kehoe said. “I think this shows, again, that Superior is a progressive place for business … I’m no different than anybody else. I complain about my taxes, but here you go. This is going to increase our tax base. That’s really important.”

Kehoe said the issue has been studied carefully, and will be good for the city.

In addition to the traffic lights, Serck said the city will monitor changes in traffic patterns and consider traffic calming measures to keep the surrounding neighborhood safe.

The new store, an estimated $10 million to $11 million investment that would employ about 110 people, will be located between 22nd and 23rd avenues East at about East Fourth Street with entrances to the parking lot at about East Third Street.

In other business:

The council approved a liquor license transfer for development of the Ugly Stick, 3301 Belknap St., adjacent to the Shack. The new venue will feature dance music — classic rock, rhythm and blues, and country — and will open after remodeling is done, according to Shack owner Seth Oliver. After hearing from Billings Park residents concerned about noise, Council President Mike Herrick encouraged people who have noise problems to contact him.

The council accepted a $944,962 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grant requires no city match and allows the fire department to hire additional firefighters.

Councilors Dan Olson, Warren Bender, Denise McDonald, Bob Finsland, Herrick, Mick MacKenzie and Bob Browne voted to appoint Lew Martin to serve the remainder of Councilor Len Joyal’s term. Joyal is resigning after 21 months on the council, and abstained from Tuesday night’s vote. Councilor Tom Bridge and Jackie Stenberg favored leaving the seat open until the term expires in April. Martin, 95, who served on the county board for 30 years, said he doesn’t plan to for the seat. Marge Kaptonek and Kim Collins also applied for the open seat. Collins said she’s planning to run for council seat this spring.

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