According to a presentation given by city of Branson staff members, all the appropriate permits for excavation, tree removal, and blasting were in effect when work started on the TanStone Plaza commercial development located on Forsyth Road. The presentation was made as part of the Branson Board of Aldermen Work Session held on Oct.2 at Branson City Hall.
In introducing the presentation, acting city administrator Frank Schoneboom pointed out that there was a lot of public discussion on the project at the last board meeting. Don Stephens, Planning Director for the city of Branson, explained the various uses permitted in various zoning districts and the general process that is involved with a planned development.
The early work on the site involved grading and tree removal on the Forsyth Road improvements. These improvements had been agreed to in mid March after a meeting with the TanStone Group, the City Engineer, David Miller, the city of Branson’s economic development director and the city administrator. Basically TanStone was to build the road for the city and because, at that point, the scope of the project was just city streets in conjunction with the city the city’s other ordinances relating to land development did not apply.
According to Stephens, on May 15 and Jul 25, the city was notified of violations of the city’s tree ordinances, made a site inspections on the day of notification and issued stop work orders. Citations were issued for the violations and TanStone paid a total of $36,900 in penalties on Aug. 14.
On Aug. 16 The TanStone Group, LLC sent a letter to Mayor Rae Anne Presley, the Board of Aldermen, the Planning and Zoning Commission and various city officials explaining their understanding of what had happened and why. In the letter they apologized for the tree clearing incident, took full responsibility for it and stated that they had “taken internal steps to try and make very certain that nothing like that occurs again.
The letter also outlined the items that TanStone is hoping to work with the city on and asked for its understanding and support so as to make the project a success. It also went on to outline some of the benefits that TanStone Plaza would bring to the city.
Branson Fire Chief, Carl Sparks discussed when the Burn and Blasting Permits were issued. He pointed out that a pre blasting survey was required for each structure within 300 feet of the blasting. At the Sep. 24 meeting of the board a major item of discussion was that the pre blasting surveys had not been conducted.
Although Chief Sparks could say that the surveys were required and Chris DeJohn, a partner in the TanStone development, said that they had received and paid bills for such surveys no one could definitely say that they had been conducted. During Chief Sparks presentation, DeJohn stated that they had changed blasting company’s because of problems relating to the blasting resulting in small enough rock.
Chief Sparks said that based on complaints from some of the local property owners the number of “holes” being blasted was reduced from 20 to 10. He presented slides that showed damage to one car windshield, that “fly rock entered the complex,” and that “pebbles went across the parking lot and rooms.” At the Sep. 24 meeting there was allegations that the rocks caused holes in the roof. The Chief indicated that the roof had been inspected after the city received the complaint and there was no damage.
Alderman Jack Purvis stated his belief that the presentation established that a lot of what had been said at the meeting was not accurate. The approval of the TanStone Planned Development for TanSton Plaza and adopting land use regulations for the property is on the regular agenda for the city of Branson’s board of aldermen meeting of Oct. 8.
