Absent: George Hettich

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE

Stephanie Karr, City Attorney Susan M. Istenes, AICP, Planning Director

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

CAROLYN GAIDIS – MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH MINOR AMENDMENTS

RICHARD LINTZ – SECOND

BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES MAY 18, 2020, MEETING MINUTES.

2 ALL BUSINESS

7454 FORSYTH BOULEVARD – ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD – NEW TEMPORARY COMMERCIAL

Director Susan M. Istenes summarizes the following staff report: “The subject site is comprised of city owned right of way along Carondelet Plaza and Forsyth Boulevard and two parcels of land, one identified as Subdistrict 2B and the other, Subdistrict 3, both within the Centene Clayton Campus Subdistrict Master Plan (a portion of which is in University City). The project consists of the demolition of two existing entry walls and landscaping on the east and west sides of the intersection of Carondelet Plaza and Forsyth Boulevard and the installation of a temporary welcome center building, landscape benches, pavers and a variety of trees and shrubs in landscape beds flanking the entry point. The project also includes the installation of new city required streetscape along the Carondelet Plaza and Forsyth Boulevard frontages. A 6-foot-tall decorative iron fence will surround the Subdistrict 3 property along Forsyth Boulevard and an 8-foot-tall decorative iron fence will be placed on the back side of the property; the lots will be grass sodded and seeded. The entry median on Carondelet Boulevard at Hanley Road is also proposed to be landscaped.

The Subdistrict 2B and Subdistrict 3 properties are part of the Centene Clayton Campus project. Both lots have a zoning designation of Special Development District (SDD). Subdistrict 2B (1.337 acres) was originally slated to be developed with a corporate/civic auditorium, but development approvals on those plans have expired and the property owner has no immediate plan to develop the site. The Subdistrict 3 property (2.47 acres including a portion in University City) is not currently slated for development at this time.

The existing landscaping at the east and west entries at Carondelet Plaza is comprised of 10 Bradford Pear trees and ground cover. The trees and groundcover will be removed along with the two existing brick entry walls. The west end landscape bed will be reconfigured and replanted with 3 Serbian Spruce, 8-10 feet in height, 4 limelight hydrangeas and a variety of ornamental grasses, perennials and ground covers. The east end landscape bed will be reconfigured to surround a +/- 1,400 square foot proposed paver plaza which will house a temporary structure, erected at the southeast corner of the plaza. The landscape bed will be planted with 2 Serbian Spruce, limelight hydrangeas and a variety of ornamental grasses, perennials and ground cover. The temporary structure will be used as a “welcome center” to the campus; both landscape areas will create an entry way to the Centene campus. The paver plaza will be constructed with three different color pavers: Light White, Grey and Dark Grey, placed in a random pattern.

The temporary building is rectangular in shape and is approximately 200 square feet in area and is proposed to be built out with 83 square feet of office space and 49 square feet of restroom area. The building is approximately 20 feet 4 ½ inches in length and 8 feet 7 inches in height with a sloping roofline. The building will be constructed of architectural pre-cast panels, light grey in color, storefront glazing with a frit pattern which will match the glazing on the Centene tower, aluminum soffit and fascia, matte black in color, and black EPDM roofing. The building will be placed towards the rear of the paver plaza and flanked with two “branch” shaped concrete benches which are white in color with an acid etched finish. The plans also in include a landscaped bioretention area along Carondelet Plaza and proposed landscaping in the median just east of the intersection of Carondelet Plaza and Hanley Road. A monument sign is also noted on the plans; however, it is not under consideration as part of this review.

A black 6-foot-high ornamental steel picket style fence will be erected, surrounding the Subdistrict 3 property except for the rear (south) property line, where the fence will be 8 feet in height. The proposed fence is setback approximately 3 feet from the back of the sidewalk with a proposed planting bed of ornamental grasses between the fence and sidewalk.

A black 6-foot-high ornamental steel picket style fence will be erected, surrounding the Subdistrict 3 property except for the rear (south) property line, where the fence will be 8 feet in height. The proposed fence is setback approximately 3 feet from the back of the sidewalk with a proposed planting bed of ornamental grasses between the fence and sidewalk.

3 The design and materials of the temporary shelter are compatible with the materials used on other Centene structures. The proposed landscaping provides a variety of trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses and perennials and will refresh the appearance of the entrance at Carondelet Plaza and Forsyth Boulevard. The City’s Public Works Department has reviewed the streetscape plans and has found them acceptable. Staff is of the opinion that the design and materials of the plaza and temporary welcome center are compatible with the neighborhood character.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVE WITH THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS: