Crystal Lake Park

Home  |  Calendar  |  City Officials  |  Meeting Minutes  |  Municipal Codes  |  Planning & Zoning  |  Quarterly Newsletter

Minutes

of the City of Crystal Lake Park, Missouri

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

Thursday, January 4, 2007

            P & Z Commission Chairperson David Evans called the meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment to order and announced a quorum of the P&Z Commission.

ROLL CALL:

            Present:  Building Commissioner Robb Lappe, P&Z Commission Chairperson David Evans, Commission Members Rita Brinkman, Lee Crockett and Amy Cislo, Mayor Matthew Balcer, and  BoAdj Members Sue Glarner, Mary Jane Cusumano and Barry Larson.

            Absent:  P & Z Commission Member Chris Kerckhoff, Alderperson Jim Gehringer, and Board of Adjustment Members Martin Long and Marianne Stuart. 

REVIEW ITEMS:

A.       New Home at 2115 Grandview Drive (previously granted pre-approval by P & Z Commission).    

BC Lappe began the discussion by noting that the builder of the proposed home at 2115 Grandview Drive, Stefan Cooke, had previously been granted pre-approval for his plan at a prior P & Z Commission meeting with the understanding that he would alter his plan to comply with current set back requirements.  Cooke, who was in attendance stated that he had made the requested changes to the plan for compliance and distributed copies of the revised plan to members to review.  As members reviewed the plan, questions arose concerning a six foot high patio fence to be built.  BC Lappe clarified the issue by noting that six feet is the maximum height for a patio fence, while the maximum height for fencing on other parts of a property was limited to four feet.  Other questions arose concerning the height of the home and Cooke stated that the plan called for a home with a height of twenty-eight feet.  Chairman Evans noted that thirty feet was the maximum height permitted from finished grade, excluding the chimney, and therefore Cooke’s plan appeared to be in compliance.  Cooke then noted that his plan also complied with set back requirements in that the proposed home would allow for seven and one-half feet wide set backs on both the north and south sides of the property.  Commission member Brinkmann asked how close the new home would be to the existing home on the south side of the property line of the proposed new home.  Cooke replied that including the seven and one-half foot setback, the distance was twelve and one-half feet.  Commission member Cislo then noted that the property line on the corner side yard must be 50% of the front line requirement.  The front line requirement is 20 feet, so the north side yard must be 10 feet.  Further discussion ensued wherein the Commissioner members debated and then referenced the City’s ordinances for assistance.  It was decided that the plan would again need to be revised, decreasing the width of the proposed new home by two inches.  BC Lappe noted the plans would not need to be altered as he could just note the change on the current plan.

That being decided, BoAdj member Barry Larson asked whether the Commission members had checked all of the other grades and setbacks on the plan to ensure that it complied with the City ordinances.  Members responded in the affirmative and Cooke then proceeded to display the building materials to be used on the proposed home, consisting of a rough red brick, gray brown shingle, white windows and trim, and vinyl siding.  Larson then inquired as to the square footage of the home and Cooke responded that it would be a total of 2700 square feet.  Larson responded that the ordinances only allowed a maximum of 2200 square feet.  More discussion ensued among Commission members with Mayor Balcer noting that although Cooke’s plans had already been pre-approved by the Commission, they did not notice the square footage on the plan and incorrectly approved it.  However, he added, the Commission was required to comply with the ordinances in either regard.  He advised Cooke to ask for a variance to allow the total of 2700 square feet in the home, which would need to be approved by the Board of Adjustment.  Additional discussion ensued by Commission members, as well as residents in the audience over the quandary of having pre-approved the plan that was not in compliance with the ordinances, and whether the City could now decide not to approve the plan.  After further discussion, Chairman Evans made a Motion, seconded by Mayor Balcer, that the Commission again pre-approve the plan with the required changes noted on the plan (decreasing the size of the home by two inches on the north side of the home and lowering the height of the home), pending approval by the Board of Adjustment to Cooke’s variance request to have 2700 square feet.  Commission members Lappe, Cislo and Brinkmann, Mayor Balcer and Chairperson Evans voted in the affirmative while Commission member Crockett abstained from the vote.

Following the vote, Cooke and his partner in the project, Stan Bursak asked Commission members how they could have approved the last two homes constructed in the City, both of which exceeded the 2200 maximum square footage requirement in the ordinances, yet not approve their project.  They noted their unhappiness with the Commission’s decision.

It was decided that the Board of Adjustment would scheduled a special meeting within the next week to address the variance being requested by Cooke.  Member Larson agreed to schedule the meeting and post notice.

B.       New Pool at 2225 Divot Drive. 

            Chairperson Evans opened the discussion by asking BC Lappe if, after review, the plan for a pool at 2225 Divot Drive was in compliance with the City’s building requirements.  BC Lappe responded that the plan need only comply with the ordinances of St. Louis County, which would be responsible for approval of the plan.  Lappe added that the fence included in the plan was the only item that needed to be reviewed by the Commission.  Questions arose concerning the size and color of the fence, which were answered by the home owners at 2225 Divot Drive and their pool contractor, who was also in attendance at the meeting.  After discussion, Commission members approved the pool plan.

OLD BUSINESS 

A.       Results from City Survey on Housing & Construction. 

Commission member Amy Cislo stated that at the November meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission the results of the survey were initially discussed, but noted that some numbers included in the survey results had since been updated slightly.  She distributed copies of the revised survey results for review by members.   Commission Chairperson Evans said that the Commission would like to thank both Cislo and Board of Adjustment member Martin Long for producing an excellent survey and summary of results, as well as their hard work on the project.

Cislo then noted that it had been agreed upon at the last meeting of the Commission that the February meeting would be entirely devoted to discussion of a Comprehensive Plan (CP) for the City.  That discussion should include, she added, where the City is now with respect to housing and construction, the survey results, and where the City is headed in the future relative to that issue.  A discussion ensued as to whether or not a mediator should be utilized to help the Commission develop a CP.  Cislo said that the members of the Commission and BoAdj should bring to the next meeting copies of the CP’s for the cities of Frontenac and Glendale for review.  Further discussion ensued regarding the small size of the City and that the City could get by with a simpler plan than most cities.  It was decided to further pursue the discussion at the February meeting.

Member Brinkmann then stated that she had contacted Bob Shelton of the City of Frontenac to discuss what their City required of builders and contractors, including fees and bonds.  She distributed a list of the requirements of builders for the City of Crystal Lake Park, as well as the one for Frontenac provided by Shelton.  She added that Shelton had recommended that the two lists be merged and utilized by both cities.  BC Lappe volunteered to merge the two and provide the revised document. 

Member Lee Crockett then stated that he believed that the City of Frontenac had not performed the required inspections on the new home currently being built on Oak Drive.  BC Lappe agreed to contact the City of Frontenac to ascertain whether or not that had been done.  Further discussion ensued about which City or County performs which inspections on property and why.  BC Lappe explained that St. Louis County performs all plumbing and electrical inspections while the City of Frontenac performs foundation inspections.  There being no further discussion nor questions, Chairperson Evans made a Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Mayor Balcer, and unanimously approved.

NEW BUSINESS

A.      No report.

            NEXT MEETING

            The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Commission and BoAdj was scheduled for Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.  

            VOTE TO CLOSE MEETING

            A vote to close the meeting ensued and was unanimously approved.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

            MINUTES RECORDED BY:

            ______________________________________________

            Lois A. LaDriere

            ATTEST:

            ______________________________________________

            Building Commissioner, Robb Lappe