Affton resident Michael Burton fired several verbal volleys at the St. Louis County Council during its Feb. 27 meeting after trying to get Council Member Pat Dolan to commit to setting up a town hall meeting.
Burton wants Dolan to listen to Affton residents' concerns at least 30 days before July 1, when Tower Tee is scheduled to close.
"You said you would have the meeting," Burton insisted. "I have listened to the community and they don't want to lose green space and they don't want more Heege traffic. I have listened to the community and they don't want higher property taxes and they don't want more crowded schools. I have listened to the community and they would like to enjoy the wildlife in Affton."
Tower Tee occupies 27.7 acres at 6727 Heege Road in Affton. Tegna, which owns KSDK-TV Channel 5, owns the property. Last summer, McBride Berra Land Company LLC agreed to pay $4.77 million for the land.
"I have listened to the community and they don't want to be concerned about more water runoff and the overwhelming majority does not want to lose a family-friendly establishment in Affton, especially at the expense of more traffic and many other problems to go along with it," Burton continued.
McBride Berra's contract is contingent on rezoning it from commercial to residential before creating The Arbors at Tower Tee, 99 single-family homes averaging $350,000, plus 59 attached row houses averaging $250,000.
According to a St. Louis County Planning employee, McBride Berra has not re-applied for another public hearing since the one scheduled last November that the company delayed.
"To take away all of this, an 18-hole course for golfers, mini-golf course for all ages, batting cages for all age groups, a huge driving range used by all people throughout St. Louis," wrote resident Winona Schrieber, 92, in a message Burton said he posted on Facebook. "To take away all of this for more housing seems to me to be cruel and unnecessary, plus creating a traffic nightmare on Heege Road, which is already crowded morning and night."
Schrieber said this is the only large green space playground the community of Affton has to play in.
"My hope is that we as a community can join together and make our voices heard to save this beautiful gem for future generations. Let's save Tower Tee," wrote Schrieber.
Originally a brickyard, Roy Lotz built the driving range and miniature golf complex in 1963. It remained a family enterprise, with Roy's son Dick running the business until 2002, when grandson Steve took over. Batting cages were added in 1974 and the Lotzes installed 15 live-arm machines for baseball and softball.
"I have lived in Affton for 63 years," said resident Jean Burke. "It was within our price range and close to the city. Tower Tee is such a family-oriented place and nice for everyone. I love when I pass by there, people enjoying themselves, and my children always used the batting cages and the miniature golf range. With more and more cars, they would have to widen Heege and I can't see that happening as there are houses on both sides. I would like to see Tower Tee remain as a place where people can go and get enjoyment."
Some residents claim the Affton School District could not handle the growth Arbors at Tower Tee would generate while others fear it will push them out of the district.
"The potential housing development at Tower Tee is a sign that developers are seeing the Affton community as a desirable location for families with children, which speaks well to our schools and is a positive and exciting thing for our community," said Erica Chandler, Affton School District's communications director. "Affton School District has begun work with a demographer to research the impact this, along with the 38 homes under construction across from Affton High School and other developments, could have on our district and region, which will help inform our enrollment projections and future planning efforts."
Burton fired his final volley of questions at the council.
"Who's going to pay for Heege Road expansion? Who's going to pay for the widening of the (railroad) trestle? McBride Berra? Tegna? Or us?" Burton demanded. "I've had people coming to me with tears in their eyes telling me that if their property taxes go up any more, they're going to lose their homes. The (taxes) just went up last year and that is not right."