Crystal Lake Park

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Minutes

of the City of Crystal Lake Park, Missouri

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

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Chairman 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:  David Evans (Chairperson), Rita Brinkman, Amy Cislo, Chris Kerckhoff , Barry Larson, Mary Jane Cusumano, Martin Long,  Caili Balcer, Jessica Kerckhoff,  Brooke Hager, Marianne Stuart, Amy Goellner and Sue Glarner.  Absent:  Judy Hennesy.   Evans notified the Commission that Lee Crockett had submitted his resignation and would no longer be serving on the Commission.  He stated that he had talked to some residents recently who had expressed an interest in replacing Crockett on the Commission.  Larson stated that he had decided to continue to serve on the P&Z and Board of Adjustment (BoAdj), but that he was resigning as Chairman of the BoAdj.  Evans suggested that if anyone on the BoAdj would like to serve as Chairman, to contact him.

BUILDING COMMISSIONER UPDATE:

Evans reminded the group that the City was still looking for a Building Commissioner (BC) to replace Robb Lappe, who had resigned on April 1, 2007.  In that regard, Larson introduced Joe McGowan, an architect with Cochran Engineering in Franklin County, Missouri, who had expressed an interest in the BC position.  Larson informed McGowan that the City did not currently have a job description for a BC, so he began explaining some of the responsibilities that would be involved in the position.  Basically, he said, the job would encompass reviewing of plans for compliance with ordinances and providing feedback, and if plans don’t meet the ordinances, then explaining what needs to be done to ensure that they comply.  McGowan asked if such plans are reviewed by St. Louis County as well, to which the response was yes, they are reviewed for structural compliance.  McGowan proceeded to describe his current duties in reviewing plans for the City of Ellisville, which includes performing certain inspections that St. Louis County  performs for CLP.  McGowan was also told that the City of Frontenac provides some forms of inspections for CLP, too.  McGowan noted that he can provide zoning inspections, check aesthetics, materials and setbacks, too.  Brinkman asked whether he could review fence and deck plans, to which McGowan replied yes.

Gehringer indicated that there may be some inspections currently provided by the City of Frontenac that McGowan could assume.  City Clerk LaDriere reminded Gehringer that CLP was under contract with the City of Frontenac to perform such services through May 2011.   Resident Susie Cooper expressed her dissatisfaction with the $500 fee charged by the City of Frontenac as a permit and inspection fee for the addition to her home being planned. 

REVIEW ITEMS:

A.      New Fence for Ben Kershman at 2142 East Drive.  Evans asked if Kershman was in the audience, to which there was no reply.  Evans noted that the fence plans needed to be approved by the BC and that he had reviewed them already.  He distributed a set of plans for Commission members to review and asked that they get back to him with their response. 

B.     New Fence for Jim & Barb Gehringer at 2123 Oak Drive – Approved by acting BC.   Evans noted that the plans had already been approved by the Commission, as well as him as acting BC.  Gehringer described the split rail fence.  Jessica Kerckhoff asked if a survey and easement information had been provided with the plans, and Gehringer said yes.  Evans then asked if there was a list of items to be provided by those seeking permits; if not, we need one, he said.   Cislo noted that as a result of a prior lawsuit, those items needed to be required before plans are approved.  Evans then made a motion to approve the proposed fence, which was unanimously approved.  Cislo further noted that a friend of hers in Ladue had just concluded a lawsuit to defend his property line after a neighbor mistakenly put a fence on his property.  Though the friend did nothing wrong, a dispute over the property line cost him a lot of money.  Cislo recommended that the Commission advise all residents who want to erect a fence to get a stake survey prior to installation. 

C.     New Bedroom & Carport Additions for the Herzogs at 2129 East Drive – Revisited in light of new information.  Evans noted that previously the plans for this project had been denied because it wasn’t believed to have met setback requirements and other things.  However, he stated that he has since talked to employees of St. Louis County and after reviewing the plans, it was determined that the plan does meet the aggregate setback.  Evans distributed the site plan to members to review again and noted that he had earlier misread the plan and said that it should now be approved.  Gehringer concurred that if the plan was reviewed by St. Louis County and they say it meets the ordinances, then it should be approved.  Evans then made a Motion to approve the plans as submitted, and following a unanimous vote of approval, the plan was approved.  Gehringer then asked City Clerk LaDriere if she could follow the project through its inspection process and develop a list of items included in the process of plan approval for future City use.  LaDriere stated that she would ask the Board’s approval of her time before proceeding.

D.     New Screened Porch for the Erlangers at 2130 Grandview Drive – Share findings from St. Louis County & City Attorney.  Evans stated that the plan was reviewed by the Commission at the last meeting and it was determined that it did not meet the setback requirement.  Since then, he noted, he has talked to the City Attorney and Erlanger’s attorney.  The City Attorney said that if the deck is being “repaired,” meaning step repair or railings, it is a non-conforming use (built before new ordinances), and then updates and repairs can be made.  A discussion ensued and further questions ensued concerning the proposed plans and existing structure. Evans asked for a vote to approve allowing repairs to the existing deck, which was unanimously approved.  Evans then made a Motion to approve the plan in its entirety, as submitted, and a vote followed, to wit:

David Evans (Chairperson, P&Z)          yes

Rita Brinkman                                       no

Amy Cislo (P&Z)                                 no

Chris Kerckhoff (P&Z)             yes

Barry Larson (P&Z)                             no

Amy Goellner                                       yes

Mary Jane Cusumano (P&Z)                yes

Martin Long (P&Z)                              yes

Caili Balcer (P&Z)                                yes

Jessica Kerckhoff (P&Z)                      yes

Brooke Hager                                      yes

Marianne Stuart                                    abstain

Jim Gehringer (Alderman)                     no

Final vote was 8/yes, 4/no, and one abstention.  The plan for new screened porch was thus approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

A.      Building Commissioner Update.  The discussion having occurred earlier in the meeting, Evans moved on to the next item for discussion.

B.     Martin Long’s building code research & presentation.  Long, in response to recent questions and heated debates concerning District D ordinances and their effect on the “cottage” homes in particular, gave a slide presentation to compare homes and square footage ordinances in the City’s various districts.  During the presentation, numerous questions were again raised and debated.  Following much discussion, Long was thanked for his lengthy research and time he devoted to preparing the presentation.

C.     Conflict of Interest – Including Family members.  Evans indicated that he had heard that some residents were concerned about the issue of conflict of interest among those serving on the Commission.  He said that he had contacted the City Attorney to develop a Conflict of Interest statement which all Commission members would sign.

OLD BUSINESS:

Review the Revised District D Ordinance to present to the City.  Evans said that there had been numerous discussions over a substantial period of time regarding the District D ordinances.  He noted that Martin’s presentation had addressed some of those issues.  He also said that previously the Commission had denied some plans because of the restricted ordinances in place.  He said that the issue would take more time to resolve, and that aggregate and square footage requirements were the main issues of contention.  He suggested that a vote be taken to decide whether or not the previously proposed revised ordinances should be approved.   A discussion ensued and due to the lateness of the evening, Evans said the topic should be tabled to the next meeting, promising to put the topic first on the June Agenda.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Commission and Board of Adjustment was scheduled for Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.  

VOTE TO CLOSE MEETING

There being no further business, a Motion was made to close the meeting, seconded and unanimously approved.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

City Clerk, Lois LaDriere

Chairman, David Evans