2015
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Started
Needs analysis, inventory and condition of existing facilities, recreation programming plans and sustainability/ maintenance of current facility inventory.
History
The WREC is an 83,100 square-foot multigenerational recreational facility. It is designed to include amenities directly influenced by resident feedback in a Feasibility Study so it may be enjoyed by all members of the community, regardless of age.
It is centrally located off of Wentzville Parkway between West Meyer Road and Schroeder Creek Boulevard.
Navigate Building Solutions, LLC is the Construction Manager and Hastings+Chivetta Architects are leading the design process.
The Wentzville Bend project is a 60-acre mixed-use development along Wentzville Parkway (in close proximity to Heartland Park, City Hall and the Law Enforcement Center – further extending the “government campus”).
The development includes the Wentzville Rec Center, the City’s multigenerational recreation facility, and more than 140,000 square feet of new retail, as well as open spaces.
The public portion of the joint development area and eligible components of the private development will be funded by bonds, which will be repaid through sales tax revenue collected in the newly formed Wentzville Bend Regional Community Improvement District (Regional CID) and Wentzville Bend Community Improvement District (Bend CID). Click here to view maps of both CIDs.
A Community Improvement District (CID) is a political subdivision that may be created for the purpose of issuing bonds, levying taxes and applying special assessments to finance public improvements, public services and blight removal within a defined area. Community Improvement Districts are established through legislative action and can only be approved by the Board of Aldermen and a majority of property owners within the district boundaries. The public hearings, second readings and final votes for the Wentzville Parkway Regional CID and Wentzville Bend CID took place at the June 12, 2019, Board of Aldermen meeting.
The Wentzville Parkway Regional CID will be funded by an additional 1% sales tax within the district boundary. The Wentzville Bend CID will be funded by an additional 1/2% sales tax within the district boundary. On the private portion of the development, the CID may fund eligible expenses typically including general site work, grading, land clearance, installation of storm sewers, paving and utility extensions. Vertical construction of buildings is not an eligible expense.
Community Improvement Districts and other incentives have been utilized in a large number of developments throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Click here to view a map that depicts the location of all special taxing districts located in St. Charles County.
The private development entity for the Wentzville Bend Project is Wentzville Bend Development, LLC. This group is represented by Alan Bornstein and Jeffrey Otto. Wentzville Bend Development, LLC intends to develop its portion of the project with retail and other commercial uses.
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The Development Agreement establishes the following terms for CID revenue distribution between the two parties:
Revenue generated by the Regional CID will be split between the parties, with 60% distributed to the City and 40% distributed to the Developer. Estimated annual revenue generated (using 2018 receipts) is:-
$2,329,969 – City
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$1,553,313 – Developer
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3/32 of the Regional CID revenue will be distributed to the City for the operation and maintenance of the multigenerational recreation facility. The 3/32 contained within the Developer (40%) portion of the Regional CID revenue will be passed to the City, but pledged to the Developer’s financing for utilization in the event that anticipated revenues are not realized. Estimated annual revenue generated (using 2018 receipts) is:
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$241,031 – City
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$160,688 – Developer (When passed to the City, the total City amount would be $401,719)
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All revenue generated by the Regional CID on newly developed properties within the Wentzville Bend area will be distributed to the Developer. The amount generated will be dependent upon end users.
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All revenue generated by the Wentzville Bend CID will be distributed to the Developer. The amount generated will be dependent upon end users.
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New Municipal Revenue from sales taxes generated within the Wentzville Bend area will be split between the parties, with 30% distributed to the City and 70% distributed to the Developer. The amount generated will be dependent upon end users.
Retail construction began in 2019 and planning and construction will continue through 2023 on multiple parcels within The Bend. The developer has the ability to provide space to any use permitted in the C-3 Highway Business District and WP Wentzville Parkway Overlay District. The provided hyperlinks will take you to lists containing all of the potential uses for the site. Announcements will be made as individual businesses are confirmed.
As a part of this project, the intersection at Great Oaks Boulevard and Wentzville Parkway will be signalized. Great Oaks Boulevard will be extended to William Dierberg Drive. Crystal Creek Parkway will also be extended to William Dierberg Drive.
2016
Multiple Stakeholder Meetings
Identified community need for additional indoor recreation space for fitness, aquatics, and educational programs.
2017
Multigenerational Recreation Center Feasibility Study Started
Study market potential, sustainability, programming needs and space allocation, potential operating costs, and develop site analysis criteria.
Stakeholder Meetings Feasibility Study Started
Further verification of community need for indoor recreation spaces and a basic program space recommendation was established. The recurring message the public gave us was the desire for a new/modern fitness facilities, indoor aquatics space, senior center, enhanced youth and adult programming capabilities.
2018
Development Partnership
Retail developer approached the City about potentially partnering on a development to bring additional retail, entertainment, residential and recreation amenities to the City.
2019
Development Agreement
Wentzville Board of Aldermen approved a Development Agreement with Wentzville Bend Development LLC for the creation of additional retail and recreational development including funding for a new community Multigenerational Recreation Facility.
Construction Manager Selection
Wentzville Board of Aldermen approved an agreement selecting Navigate Building Solutions, LLC, to be the Construction Manager for the Multigenerational Recreation Facility and for approval of a Construction Management Services.
Selection of Design Architect
A steering committee comprised of Park and Recreation Board members, City staff and consultants met, reviewed and recommended qualified architects to lead the design process for the Multigenerational Recreation Facility. The Wentzville Board of Aldermen approved an agreement selecting Hastings+Chivetta Architects to lead the design process.
Naming Process
The Wentzville Parks and Recreation Board approved a process for formally naming the new Multigenerational Recreation Facility. A list of six potential names were presented to the Wentzville Parks and Recreation Board. They selected two to the Wentzville Board of Aldermen and a community survey was then conducted to select the final name.
2020
Facility Name Approved (January)
Wentzville Board of Aldermen approved the facility name to be the community chosen name, Wentzville Community Center.
Conceptual Design Presented (April)
Design team presented the initial conceptual design for the Wentzville Community Center to the Wentzville Board of Aldermen.
Schematic Design Approved (May)
Wentzville Board of Aldermen approved the schematic design for the new Wentzville Community Center.
Design Development Phase (June)
The preliminary design will be developed further. Continue to gather public and staff feedback that will be used to help craft a final design.
Construction Documents and Bidding Process (July-September)
2021
Selection of General Contractor (January)
Approval process required for selection of general contractor to lead the construction process.
Construction Starts (March)
Facility Name Changed (March)
Board of Aldermen approved that the name be changed to Wentzville Rec Center due to trademarking concerns.
Groundbreaking for Wentzville Rec Center (March 24)
2022
Grand Opening Nov. 7, 2022
