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, June 7, 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), Chris Kerckhoff , Barry Larson, Mary Jane Cusumano, Martin Long,  Caili Balcer, Marianne Stuart, and Amy Goellner.  Absent:  Jessica Kerckhoff, Rita Brinkmann, Brook Hager and Jim Gehringer. 

OLD BUSINESS:

A.     Review of the Revised District D Ordinance.  Evans stated that the Commission should discuss the District D ordinances prior to making recommendations for changes to the Board of Alderpersons.  He said that the Commission’s options were to entertain suggested piecemeal modifications to the ordinances regarding setbacks, etc. or, alternatively, to look at the ordinances as a whole.  Kerckhoff suggested that there should be more continuity among the various districts with respect to similarly sized lots.  Obviously, he said, the Willows would remain completely separate.  He added that member Long’s presentation at the last meeting illustrated the differences in the ordinances of the various districts.  Evans stated that in District C most lots are 100 x 100 sq.ft., while those in District D are mostly 50 x 100 sq. ft.  Kerckhoff noted that some lots were 75 x 100 sq. ft. 

Larson suggested that the Commission ask Dave Littlefield, a building commissioner who was present at the meeting to apply for the City’s BC position, to provide his thoughts on the District D ordinances issue.  Littlefield noted that Crystal Lake Park is different from other municipalities with respect to these issues.  He recommended that the ordinances for all districts be more unified.  Evans asked Littlefield what criteria other municipalities used to define their zoning ordinances, i.e. setbacks, side yards, etc.  Larson then to Littlefield that part of the City contained cottage style homes and noted that the City is having difficulty addressing new home construction in that area.  Stefan Cooke added that the original homes built in the City had 7 ½ foot setbacks, but that had since been changed to 5 feet to allow for more home space.  

Evans ,asked Littlefield what, in his opinion, constitutes a hardship with respect to variances, to which Littlefield replied that corner lots usually are the ones given such variances.  Evans stated that the Commission should look at all the City districts and develop a plan with respect to ordinances.

Stuart interrupted and said that the presentation she planned to give at the meeting would address some of the issues being discussed and it was agreed she should begin her presentation.  She distributed some information and said that she had researched a number of municipalities, including Olivette and Des Peres, to ascertain their criteria for computing home sizes on various lot sizes.  For example, she said, Olivette uses floor ratios – a square foot percentage of size of home based on lot size – in determining its ordinances.  Other municipalities use “footprints” or setbacks for that determination, she said, and provided examples.  She noted that it was realistic for the City to start over on this issue as other cities had recently done so, and suggested the City tweak that information to develop its own ordinances.  A discussion ensued and Kerckhoff thanked Stuart for the enormous time and energy she had put into her presentation.  Cooke stated that the City should focus on what it wants to be in five to ten years, not just in the present.  Further discussion ensued, involving residents in attendance, concerning the matter. 

Evans suggested that Commission members view recent new homes in the City and decide which ones fit into the City’s landscape and which do not.  He also suggested that Olivette’s BC attend a future special meeting of the P&Z, open to the public, to provide input regarding these issues. Further discussion ensued and it was agreed that the Cities of Kirkwood and Clayton most closely resembled Crystal Lake Park relative to lot sizes and new construction.  P&Z members Long and Goellner agreed to research Clayton, while Balcer and Cusumano volunteered to research Kirkwood.  Research concerning the Cities of Glendale, Olivette and Maplewood had already been done by Stuart. 

It was decided that the Commission would hold a special meeting to discuss this research on Thursday, June 28^th, and that it would be open to the public.  In addition, noting that the next regular meeting of the P&Z was scheduled for July 5th immediately following the holiday, Evans suggested that that the meeting be rescheduled for Wednesday, July 18^th.  LaDriere agreed to confirm those dates with the City of Frontenac, and to post the info on the bulletin board and City website.

B.     Issues Raised as a Result of Approving Erlanger’s Deck/Screen Porch.  Evans said that the decision to approve the Erlanger’s plan to build a screened porch on top of an existing deck had been controversial.  He asked if a discussion of the decision had occurred at the last Board of Alderpersons’ meeting.  Stuart said a discussion had occurred and that the City Attorney had said that legally, the City was on solid ground with respect to the decision to approve the plan.  Cooke noted that if the City would have had a BC at that time, the BC would have made a decision on the plan rather than the P&Z Commission.  Kerckhoff stated that perhaps the City should not rule on such plans until a BC is hired.  Evans responded that as acting BC, he felt comfortable reviewing the ordinances and making such determinations until a BC is hired by the City.

NEW BUSINESS:

A.  New City Attorney.  LaDriere informed the Commission that having been unable to schedule a presentation by an attorney from Curtis Oetting to the Board, it had been decided to vote at the next Board meeting on retaining attorney Howard Papener.  Evans recommended that the new City Attorney should, at least initially, attend all P&Z meetings as well.  Larson added that a new BC should be recommended by P&Z to the Board at the meeting, too.   

Larson then asked Littlefield if he would like to add anything concerning his qualifications to serve the City as BC.  Littlefield stated that any new BC hired by the City should have an understanding of the City.  He noted that he has had an architectural firm for 30 years, which would enable him to better address residents’ questions.  He also said that he has been an Alderperson for 13 years.  In addition, he said, he is a people person and believed he could contribute greatly to the City.  Evans inquired as to Littlefield’s billing procedures and asked if he could work on an hourly basis.  Littlefield replied that he could work on an hourly basis but preferred a flat fee basis.  Cooke suggested more of an ala carte menu of billing, like different flat fees for different duties, i.e. review of new home plans, addition, reviews, and attending P&Z meeting.  Evans asked if Littlefield could prepare such a proposal and provide it to the City prior to the special meeting on June 28^th, to which Littlefield replied yes.

B.  Conflict of Interest.  Evans said that once a new City Attorney is hired, he or she will prepare a Conflict of Interest form for P&Z members to sign.  He then distributed information provided by Jim Gehringer titled “A Primer on Legal Issues for Newly Elected Officials” for review by Commission members. 

C.   Assignment of New P&Z Commission Members.  Evans noted that the Commission needed qualified members on the P&Z, so rather than randomly adding new members who have expressed an interest in serving, he suggested that the Commission be more selective in choosing members in the future.  He volunteered to confer with the City Attorney concerning what qualifications were necessary to serve on the P&Z.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Commission and Board of Adjustment was rescheduled for Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.   In addition, a special meeting to discuss District D issues, open to the public, was scheduled for Thursday, June 28, 2007.

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 8:45 p.m.

City Clerk, Lois LaDriere

Chairman, David Evans