During the meeting the applicant identified several walls in the community that were not compliant with the current policy. Most likely these

5 had been constructed before the Board’s decision to support modular block of a specific style and appearance, although some could have been illegally constructed as well. Louis continued by stating that the proposed modular block does not conform to the style the Architectural Review Board has consistently approved in the past; therefore, staff’s recommendation is for the Board to deny the request as submitted.

Mr. Garas informed the members that he is an old architect from Egypt and has lived here for 40 years. He stated that the building is beautiful, that there are other similar walls in the area and that he did not know that City approval was needed. He indicated that he already paid the contractor and while they were working, the City inspector stopped the job, which affected his dignity as an architect, and that he was told the wall was ugly. He stated that he took several pictures of other walls in the area and he does not understand the problem. (Photographs were presented to the Board for their review). He stated that a high end building on Meramec picked the same stones he used; a Brentwood building used the same ones as well. He added that for a month he has been frustrated and hasn’t slept; he tried to do something good. He asked for the same treatment as his neighbors and be allowed to use these stones as 80% of the walls are the same as his. He informed the members that he has no money to remove the stones; his contractor left him. He then asked the Board if they were going to help him or not.

Chairman Lichtenfeld complimented Mr. Garas for attempting to improve his property and keep mud off the driveway; however, the problem is there are aesthetic requirements and there are many that have varying colors, sizes and tumbled/rolled edges so they replicate natural stone. He noted that the building has natural stone on it and that there are products that look like the stone on the building; the straight blocks don’t match the building. He noted that one of the pictures shows a tumbled wall and another shows natural stone wall.

Mr. Garas stated that he took pictures of many walls.

Chairman Lichtenfeld informed Mr. Garas that quite often, walls are illegally constructed and many were installed before the requirement.

Mr. Garas stated that his wall can’t be seen from the street; it is perpendicular to the street and slopes down. He asked that the Board members, as neighbors, help him, as he doesn’t know what to do.

Chairman Lichtenfeld asked if staff marked up the submittal (arrows, circles).

Louis Clayton replied “no”; the applicant did that.

Mr. Garas concurred. He again asked for the Board’s help as this is a bad situation. He repeated that his wall can’t be seen from the street.

He again asked for the Board’s help as this is a bad situation. He repeated that his wall can’t be seen from the street.

6 Chairman Lichtenfeld disagreed. He stated that the wall is apparent as one drives down the street.

Mr. Garas again asked for help.

Chairman Lichtenfeld asked if the wall is over 4-feet in height.

Mr. Garas stated that he wanted a 6-foot wall, but he can make it 4 feet if that’s what the Board wants.

Chairman Lichtenfeld referred to the requirement for a building permit for the wall. He stated that the issue here is the color and style of the blocks.

Pepe Finn asked if it would be possible to obtain some blocks in a different size and mix those in/intersperse them with what’s there so the result would be different size blocks.

Chairman Lichtenfeld replied that it’s possible and then he would not have to remove what he has.

Mr. Garas informed the members that all the blocks have been delivered and the supplier won’t take them back.

Mark Winings asked about the right-of-way situation.

Louis Clayton indicated that this was simply brought to this Board’s attention so if the wall is approved, verification will be necessary.

Mark Winings asked about the arrows that were drawn on the submittal.

Mr. Garas stated that one indicates what the City likes and the other indicates the one he has.

Chairman Lichtenfeld informed Mr. Garas that it’s not this Board’s intention to be harsh, but there are regulations. He informed Mr. Garas of his willingness to meet him half way and allow a mix of blocks and incorporate either the Sandstone Blend or Timberwood Blend to provide some color, shape and style relief; he believes that will help.

Mr. Garas stated that he appreciates that. He reminded the members that there is a load behind the wall and that if it’s not constructed properly, it won’t work properly. He questioned if that will work as a whole wall. He stated he can mix in a different color block.

Chairman Lichtenfeld informed Mr. Garas that Romanstone is one system.

Chairman Lichtenfeld thanked Mark Winings and Sherry Eisenberg for their service to this Commission. He announced the Joanne Boulton (who was in attendance) will be the new

8 Aldermanic Representative and the other new citizen member (to replace Sherry) has yet to be approved.

Pepe Finn asked when the Board of Aldermen will be considering TIF or other incentives for Centene.

Craig Owens indicated that no meeting has been scheduled for that. He added that the State is taking that up tomorrow.

Pepe Finn asked if there’s any way for the members of this Commission to receive advance notice when large projects are submitted to the City staff. She referred to reading an article in the Business Journal about a project (Centene) before an agenda had gone out.

Craig Owens informed Pepe about the Pending Applications section on Planning’s page of the City website and the ability to receive notice when that section is updated.

Louis Clayton indicated that plans were not shown until the meeting.

Chairman Lichtenfeld stated that the policy has been that plans are needed ahead of time and conceptual presentations are encouraged; however, plans are not mandated so that a lot of money is not spent up front.

Craig Owens stated that the applicant is advised that the lack of plans beforehand reduces staff’s comments and critique; however, it is the applicant’s choice to proceed that way if they desire to do so.

Sherry Eisenberg thanked the City for allowing her to serve on this Commission.

Mark Winings announced that the Board of Aldermen adopted the new tree ordinance.

Pepe Finn informed staff that she won’t be attending the July 5th meeting and possibly not the July 18th meeting.

Being no further question or comments, this meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.

________________________________ Recording Secretary