Crystal Lake Park - May 4, 2006 Minutes

Crystal Lake Park

Minutes

of the City of Crystal Lake Park, Missouri

Regular Meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment

Thursday, May 4, 2006

Building Commissioner Robb Lappe called the meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment to order and announced a quorum.

ROLL CALL:

Present: Building Commissioner Robb Lappe, P&Z Chairperson David Evans, Commission Members Rita Brinkman, Paul Licavoli and Amy Cislo, Mayor Matthew Balcer and Alderman Jim Gehringer, as well as Board of Adjustment Members Sue Glarner, Martin Long, Marianne Stuart and Barry Larson.

Absent: Board of Adjustment Member Mary Jane Cusumano.

REVIEW ITEMS:

A. Mark & Dawn Herzog – Preliminary Approval for New Room Addition and Carport at 2129 East Drive.

Building Commissioner (BC) Lappe opened the meeting with a discussion concerning the request by CLP residents, Mark & Dawn Herzog for preliminary approval for a room addition and a second carport at 2129 East Drive. BC Lappe displayed the preliminary plan for construction of the additional carport and room addition. Home owner Mark Herzog then explained that he needed the extra carport in order to accommodate two additional antique cars owned by the couple.

A discussion ensued regarding concerns that the carport would encroach upon the soon to be approved new setback guidelines for CLP. However, the construction would not encroach on the current St. Louis County guidelines which require only a distance of twelve feet between property structures.

Further discussion ensued concerning the aesthetics of a home with two carports, located at opposite sides of the home. The Commission then resolved to give preliminary approval to the new room addition, and requested that the BoA Members visit the home to view how the proposed carport would affect the adjacent home, and to further review the setback issue.

B. Robb Lappe & Greg Heck – New Landscaping – Brick Planter Walls, Pond, Cooking Area and Shower.

BC Lappe displayed plans for preliminary approval of new landscaping, brick planter walls, a pond, cooking area and shower in the backyard of his home. After review of the plans and discussion, it was decided that the project required no approval from the Planning and Zoning commission, and that the project could proceed as planned.

C. 321 Development – New Home at Grandview and Crystal Drives.

BC Lappe notified the Commission of plans by a developer to raze an existing single story home at Grandview and Crystal, and additional plans to build a new two-story home. A discussion ensued concerning the aesthetics of a two-story house erected adjacent to other, smaller houses. It was noted that several other single story homes on Crystal have recently been bought by developers and others already torn down, each with plans to replace them with new two-story homes. In either event, Lappe noted, this new home would meet all proposed setbacks for District D. In the interim, however, Mayor Balcer said that the builder should ask for variance approval from the BoA relative to the 6 ½ foot setback. It was agreed that the BoA would obtain and review the new construction plans and personally visit the home site. The P & Z Commission granted pre-approval of the proposed building plans, pending final review of the BoA.

Further discussion was held concerning the future of development of the City. Concerns were raised regarding new construction and oversight issues. Mayor Balcer noted that he had met with the Mayor and other representatives of the City of Frontenac, and that they had drafted a proposal regarding their City providing inspections on new residential development in Crystal Lake Park. Additional discussions ensued as to what the City of Frontenac’s inspections would cover, as well as what inspections currently provided by St. Louis County encompass. It was suggested that the City of CLP may want to charge a fee to developers in the future, to build new construction in the City. Since the City currently has scant income to cover its operational costs, and since new construction is and will continue to expand throughout the City, such a fee would provide needed financial assistance to the City. It was noted that other cities currently charge such a fee to developers. It was also discussed whether or not residents should be charged for new additions, as well. It was agreed that the Commission would inquire of other municipalities as to such fees before pursuing further discussion on the topic.

D. Review Ordinance for District “D”

BC Lappe indicated that a draft proposal had been written of the new ordinance for District “D”. He outlined the differences in the old versus proposed new ordinance, i.e. setbacks as compared to the current ordinance. A lengthy discussion ensued and it was decided that members of the P & Z Commission would review the draft proposal and that further discussion would be held when the Commission reconvenes, on Tuesday, May 16^th at 7:00 p.m.

OLD BUSINESS

A. No report.

NEW BUSINESS

B. No report.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Commission was scheduled for Tuesday, May 16^th.

VOTE TO CLOSE MEETING

A vote to close the meeting ensued and was unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

MINUTES RECORDED BY:

______________________________________________

Lois A. LaDriere

ATTEST: