The Missouri Department of Transportation reconfigured the intersection on Highway 171 and added a traffic signal. That project was a concern for residents of Carl Junction and the Briarbrook area.

“Village residents were fine with that,” Rains said. “It cured a lot of problems out there. They can get out of Tabor Woods and turn with safety.

“We have no problems with anything being proposed there except for the gas pumps. We are hoping for a grocery store, a sit-down restaurant and service-type businesses.”

The developers have invested significant money in site preparation.

“They’ve got sewer and water, and a retention pond out there,” Rains said.

Wingert said the village could have benefited from the sales-tax revenue and the possibility of a number of jobs.

“We have been trying to develop what we call a total development plan with walking paths, a greenscape and upscale buildings,” he said. “We also were looking at a site lighting plan that would have diminished what we call light trespassing.

“We were ready to cut our architect and engineer loose on this. We were ready to move. We are not now, though.”

The convenience store would have been a $2 million to $2.5 million investment, he said.

“It was not a tin building with a couple of pumps out front,” Wingert said. “That area could support another convenience store and other tenants. When you make this type of investment, you make sure before you build that the returns will be there.”

Previous prospect

The area was considered as a possible site for a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market for about six years, but that project did not materialize.