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, October 11, 2007

Chairman David Evans not being present, City Attorney Howard Paperner stated that a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission needed to volunteer to assume the Chairman’s duties.  Barry Larson agreed to do so and 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:  Martin Long, Rita Brinkmann, Barry Larson, Mary Jane Cusumano, Caili Balcer, Marianne Stuart, Dennis Bauer, and Alderman Jim Gehringer, as well as Board of Adjustment member Sue Glarner.  Also attending were City Attorney Howard Paperner and Building Commissioner (BC) John Littlefield.  Absent:  David Evans, Chris Kerckhoff and Amy Goellner.

NEW BUSINESS:

Paperner asked the BC to announce the petition before the Commission.  BC said that resident Paul Cox was requesting a variance from the City’s Board of Adjustment to build a front porch at his home at 11915 Spring Drive.  BC said that the home was built 15 feet from the setback line.  He noted that the City’s ordinances now require a 20 foot setback line, but that Cox’s home was grandfathered in having been built prior to the new ordinances.  Before proceeding further, Paperner said that now was a good time for him to further educate Board members on the duties of the members of the Board of Adjustment.  He explained that in cases of requests for variances, the burden of proof lies with the petitioner to prove there are practical difficulties in not adhering to code.  He pointed out the section in the Code that covered variances. He asked the BC if Cox had filed a formal petition for a variance, to which the BC replied yes and said copies of his plan had also been submitted.  Cox was then asked to go ahead and explain his request for a variance.  He said that his front porch plan would include an overhang that would expand across the entire front of the home, not just the porch area.  He indicated that this would provide better consistency of design.  He further stated that many homes in his area already had porches, some of which are also screened, which his would not be.  He distributed pictures of the homes to Board members.  He added that another home already had a six foot porch roof.  He said that his plan involved changing his current concrete porch to a wood porch and adding a roof line off the existing structure.  He maintained that the hardship involved was that he would like to improve his home, but could not without obtaining a variance. 

A discussion ensued among Board members and included specific questions to Cox concerning his plan.  After being advised by Paperner, Larson then asked if there was anyone at the meeting who intended to testify to the support or in opposition of the petition.  Alderperson Gehringer indicated that he wanted to speak in opposition to the petition and was sworn in by City Clerk LaDriere.  Gehringer said that petitioner did not show a hardship in requesting a variance and that Cox’s plan would further extend the current porch area as well as erect a new roof line that would not be in compliance with current ordinances.  Paperner then announced that the public session would not be closed.  He asked the BC to discuss his findings relative to the requested variance and allowed Board members to ask further questions.  After questions and discussion, a Motion was made to deny petitioner’s request for a variance.  Roll Call was taken by LaDriere with each member voting on the request as follows:  Glarner – aye; Larson – aye; Cusumano – nay; Stuart – aye; and Long – aye.  The majority voting aye, petitioner’s request was denied.

OLD BUSINESS:

Paperner next began a continuation of prior discussions of the City’s District D ordinances.  He reminded members that past discussions had included controlling the size of homes on lots, particularly as pertained to the District’s smaller lots.  Paperner said that he and the BC would try to prepare a draft of the amended ordinances for the next meeting.  It was agreed that members would discuss setbacks and roof heights, their primary concerns.  Paperner noted that when dealing primarily with square lots or parallel lot lines, it is easier to use setbacks and heights to define the new regulations than square footage.  Further discussion ensued. 

Paperner noted that another key issue discussed at the last meeting was off-street parking.  He indicated that because of the narrow City streets, the Board would probably want to require two car garages for new homes to eliminate street parking issues.  Further discussion ensued.  The discussion then moved to drainage, lot coverage and green space.  Paperner reminded members that current homes are pre-existing non-conforming structures and that any new ordinances would only affect new homes built.  Bauer stated that he is in favor of green space, but more as a noise buffer because his neighbor’s air-conditioning unit is practically under Bauer’s window.  It was suggested that the new ordinances could require that air-conditioning units be placed in the rear of any new homes built. 

Paperner then distributed information regarding the City of Maryland Heights’ ordinances dealing with trellises, gazebos, etc.  He encouraged members to review the information to help them determine what Crystal Lake Park’s (CLP) ordinances should be for those structures.  Paperner also said that with request to building pergolas and other smaller structures, it was unrealistic for the City of Frontenac, which inspects and charges permit fees on behalf of CLP, to charge a minimum of $500 for any permit fee.  He indicated that he would try in the next few months to obtain a better permit fee structure for the building of smaller structures on homes in the City.

NEXT MEETING:

The next meeting of the Commission and Board of Adjustment will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at Frontenac City Hall.  

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 8:30 p.m.

City Clerk, Lois LaDriere

Chairman, David Evans