February 6, 2023 — Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Planned Commission ARB meeting for February 6th. If anyone has electronic gadgets, please turn them on silent, including anyone who's on virtually. Before we start, we have a couple changes on the agenda. First, item one under public hearing, it will not be a public hearing tonight. It'll just be an internal discussion and we will allow people in the audience to make comments. And secondly, under new business item one, 26 and 27, Brentmore Park has been, will be postponed at the request of the owner. With that, Ryan, we'll start the roll call.

Steve Lichtenfeld. Here. Carolyn Gatiss. Here. Bridget McAndrew.

Here.

Bob Denlow. Helen DeFayt?

Bob Denlo. Helen DeFayt?

Here.

Kami Waldman?

David Gipson? Here.

David Gibson? Here.

Okay. We do have minutes from the previous meeting on January 17th. Are there any changes? No. Seeing none, do we have a motion?

I'll make a motion to approve the minutes.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? Okay. Let's move on to our discussion of Chapter 410 Article 14, the Maryland Gateway Overlay District.

So as Steve mentioned, this is not a public hearing, which means that the plan commission cannot make a formal recommendation or decision at this time, but we can review. So we previously had a discussion session related to recommendations that came from the Board of Aldermen to make amendments to the Maryland Gateway Overlay District. These amendments look to address two goals and concerns that were expressed at that level. One, ensuring future development where renovation matches the scale of existing structures, and two, to protect the historic character of the block. This is specifically related to the area within the Maryland Gateway overlay district that fronts the north side of Maryland Avenue between North Brentwood Boulevard and North Forsyth Boulevard. Contained in your staff report is a summary of the proposed amendments. There's various changes to a number of sections contained within the overlay district. Those include removing this block from eligibility to be redeveloped as a planned unit development, reducing the maximum building height from three stories or 35 feet to two stories. adding in a condition that the maximum floor area again cannot be modified through a plan development process. Adding a setback requirement for the front yard that establishes the setback based on the existing setback that you would see today along this block and then also adding an architecture review board standard that standard that requires the use of masonry or brick as the primary feature of that facade.

Thank you. To get the discussion started, I'll just make a few comments. We'll go around and then we'll open it up to the public. Basically, I think this area that are called the Williamsburg shops They are one of the final, if not the absolute final, charming little areas in Clayton. We've lost so many of them over the past couple decades as we've been the benefit of much more development that it would be nice to see this retained in some way not without changes, of course, but that's what we're considering. So we have gone through the five or so items that Ana has just gone over quickly. And I feel that we should be talking about each one more as necessary. So Carolyn?

I'm not sure, I think what we're looking at really is your finalization of the text. Is that what we're looking here from the last presentation or something dramatically different?

No, there weren't any substantial changes. The last discussion didn't recommend any, so we just formalized that in a text amendment format and then provided the staff report today. However, due to mailings not meeting the requirement for a public hearing, that's why it's been downgraded to just a discussion item.

I don't have any further comments on it. I think it looks great.

Richard?

I don't, I mean, I think Steve, you did a good job of summarizing the reason why we're talking about it and why it kind of came up through the Board of Aldermen as a discussion item. And then it came to this board. I absolutely appreciate the motivation behind the changes. And I know we're not voting on anything tonight, but I do, I mean, and I remain concerned about inhibiting the property owner's rights to build even up to three stories as it stands right now. So that continues to be a concern of mine and I'll just continue to think about it since we're not voting on it

tonight.

You know, I don't see your area as really a historic area, but it sure is charming. And I think as Steve says, it has one of the last legacies old Clayton. And I think a lot of us would hate to see it go. At the same time, it's been pretty regulated for a long time. But now that we're taking away the PUD for you, the planned urban development, that will keep it from being a high rise or whatever in the future. And I think, I mean, this is private property. I do understand that. But I think this is a balance issue And I'm really interested in hearing what the public comments are on this.

Ellen? What caught

my eye is the height is limited to two stories or 35 feet, whichever is less. So if I did two stories, I could make it 35 feet. right that is going to change the scale of what's there i mean i could do a one story normal one story and then take the second story and put a mezzanine or a loft in so i've got three stories not totally three usable stories, but I think if we wanna keep the scale, which I do think is charming, we've gotta be cognizant of how that could be played. The 35 feet and two stories could be played with. If I do a 20 story first floor, the show windows are going to be vastly different than my neighbors. So I don't know how we can define it better, but if I can get three stories in 35 feet or two stories 35 feet, I think the two stories maxing out at 35 feet is going to result in something that will look different than what we've got and like. So I don't know how we resolve it. It just caught my eye. And part of what I do is, you know, looking at things and how can I manipulate it for my client? So Amy,

David. I think if the desire of the board is to maintain the character and the look and the feel of what's there right now, along with the scale of those buildings, the way this is drafted accomplishes that. I do think the plan unit development provisions that are in there are really important to get those protections when new structures go up in their place at some point in time. So yeah, I feel like this is right on target if that's the direction.

Before we open it up, for comments. I want to respond to something Helen said, because it made me think some older towns that we see in the western part of this country have kept under a height by lowering the first floor so that the first floor was not completely below grade, but could be two to four feet below the street level, which allowed them to have three full floors, but stay under the mandatory height limit. I'm not suggesting that. I don't think that would really be what we are looking for, but people have gotten around it one way or another. So I don't know if there are any other comments from the plan commission on that, but

if not, go to the public. My

name is David Belsky. For those that don't know me, I know some of you do know me. I appreciate you allowing me to come up and speak for a couple of minutes. And I'll be very brief. My clients own 8101 through 8135 Maryland, which is the majority of Williamsburg shops. It's been in their family since it was built. And they, I'm sure, completely appreciate the sentiments of trying to keep the Williamsburg shops intact and the character of them. Although we don't know what the future is going to bring for that block. And so to take a third of our potential development away is very concerning. So we're very supportive of trying to keep the character of the block exactly as it is. We strive every day to find very unique tenants for the block, not putting typical strip center retail in there and trying to find very unique retailers for the city of Clayton. But we don't know what the future is going to bring. And so if there comes a time where where that property needs to be developed, we want to have the option to be able to utilize three stories. So we're in favor of what you want to try to accomplish, but we want to maintain our ability to have a three-story property there if we needed to. We don't know that we're, we have no plans to do that. We've operated it this way since the 1950s. I have every intention of continuing to operate it that way. But it sure takes away potential value from us. And so I hope you'll consider that.

Thank you, David. I appreciate it. Sure. Come on up.

So my name is Simon Katz, and I own 8141 Maryland Avenue. I agree with David wholeheartedly. The architectural review as far as keeping it brick structures and then the colonial look and all the rest, we love the block. We like the way it looks and everything else. But there is the fact, as David had approached, and I would just say that the reality is that If we were to try to build just a second story now, or even at that point in time, I think it's highly unlikely that there would be approval because there would be tremendous residential complaints and walk behind. It's always happened and people don't like change. We're not looking for it. I think it's just putting out something out there that really doesn't accomplish much other than restricting our abilities down the road. No one's trying to do something now, and they don't foresee any of us trying to do anything last. I wonder if Bob Horn and he's here also. It's difficult to understand why that would make a real difference. Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you, Simon. One comment. Your building is, I believe, the newest building on the block that you built. And of course, it fit into the character of the entire street. So we thank you

for that. Well, thank you. I appreciate that. And the truth is that when we built the buildings, You know, we knew we could go two stories or three stories. We didn't want to do that. We didn't wanna deal with it. And we just didn't like the idea of that building all of a sudden standing up. One comment you did make Steve about being below grade. When we built the building, we completely demolished the building and we had to pier it. That area has a very high water table and there is no way you can bring that building down farther because we had lots of issues because of that. So I can't say about any other part of Clayton, but I can definitely tell you about that block. So anyway, thank you all.

Thank you.

Any other comments? Welcome back, Elizabeth.

Thank you. I'm Elizabeth and I live on Brighton Way. And I've lived in Clayton right next to Shaw Park for the last 25 years and had lived here for 10 years sometime before that. I love Clayton for what the character used to be. The Central Business District used to have character. We used to have North Central, North Merrimack, North Brentwood and North Beamiston had beautiful buildings that could be utilized by smaller businesses that would make people come in. Remember Jennifer's her little shop, I was there once a week. I was also getting drugs, legal drugs there. But the issue that I'm seeing is that every building in Clayton that is being considered now is a heartless building, is a building with just a facade that means nothing. that also provides nothing in the way of rentable space, affordable rentable space for any other businesses that might want to come into Clayton. Certainly not the same number of businesses that for an example, the World News Building has taken out, I believe it was six or seven restaurants and two retail establishments They're never coming back. They won't be able to afford the rent in a building that's brand new, that big and that expensive. So every time we take out existing character buildings, they will never be replaced. And Clayton will indeed become the new downtown as our mayor has said several times she wants us to be. So I'm grateful to you all for considering this request. And I think it's wonderful and I appreciate it. Thank you for doing your best to keep some of Clayton's characters still alive in Clayton. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else to make a public comment here in the chambers? Do we have any hands up? Any further comment from the plan commission?

Anna, could you just remind us if, again, just I think, too, for everybody on the all of us, if, you know, in 10 years, 15 years, you know, life changes significantly, I don't know what the case may be, what are avenues? Or what are the property owners avenues for changing this? I mean, short of, I guess, rescinding any ordinance we pass?

Right, it would mostly be making a similar text amendment for this because part of this would include removing the option to do a planned unit development, which is how many of the buildings that don't meet the base zoning codes are constructed in the city. So if we remove that option in the future, revising this overlay district again would be the path to changing height or density restrictions.

I mean, that would be something, you know, that would be, I mean, relatively no in 10 years or whenever the circumstances might.

And since this has only been a discussion session, I assume we'll have a public hearing sometime in the near future.

Correct. Yes. We've scheduled all the advertisements to go out to the, the, the meeting on the 21st would be a public hearing. So that's our next planned commission meeting.

Okay, thank you everyone for that item. We will move on to our new business. And as I indicated previously, item one 26 and 27 Brentmore Park will be postponed, but we do need to make a motion. to postpone it from tonight to a future meeting.

I'll make a motion to postpone to a future meeting? Second.

All in favor? Aye. Opposed? OK, thank you all. We'll move on to item number 287, Forsyth Boulevard. And actually we have two items on that, but we'll start with the first one, which is for a general conditional use permit.

So the site to which this application pertains is a retail bay on Brentwood Boulevard. The site is part of the Forsyth Point development at Brentwood and Forsyth. The property has a PUD zoning and underlying zoning of high density commercial. The application pertains to a conditional use permit for Stride Fitness, a health club use that's conditional in the high density commercial district. An in-depth review of the criteria is provided in the staff report and I'll highlight some of those key points. So the space to be occupied is about 2,300 square feet. Hours of operation are projected to be 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. To 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Parking is provided via the 1,250 spaces in the attached garage. Waste is handled through the rear alley. The proposal is not anticipated to generate obnoxious noise or odor and is not expected to have detrimental impact on public health safety and welfare. The use compliments the surrounding area which contains a combination of office, residential, commercial and retail uses. Staff is of the opinion that the use meets the requirements contained in the regulations governing conditional use and recommends approval to the Board of Aldermen as submitted.

Okay, thank you. See the applicant is

here. Come on up. Anything to add Scott?

I don't. Well, I do.

Well, first tell us who

you are. My name is Scott Haley. Thank you. I'm with U.S. Capital Development and a representative for 8027 Foresight Point. So we have with me tonight Ryan Harbison, who is with Stride Fitness. He is going to be the franchisee. We're very lucky to have teamed up with him to come to Clayton and specifically our building. And I think what Ryan and his energy and what his concept is will bring, I think, a great amenity to Clayton as well as our building and the western part of the CBD. So I'll let Ryan, if he wants to talk a little bit about himself and his company. And thank you so much. I'll be around if you have any questions.

Hi, everybody. I'm Ryan Harbison, as Scott mentioned. So thank you for the chance to come represent Stride here tonight. As Scott mentioned, I'm the franchise owner. So I'm the owner of the company. Stride's part of the exponential brand of fitness companies. You've probably heard of Cycle Bar, for instance, is one of them. but Stride's really unique, and I'm a local St. Louis guy. I grew up here. Now, I spent a bunch of years in the military and came back, and when I wanted to locate a small business in the St. Louis area and found Stride, which I fell in love with, Stride is really a treadmill-based interval training concept, so I think sort of like an orange theory without the rowers is probably the simplest way to describe it, but with a lot of other attributes that I think make it particularly unique. So I found this business and I was excited about it and wanted to put it somewhere in St. Louis. And I looked, I looked all over the place. And when I found Forsyth Point, I just fell in love with the, with the, the location, the way that the building looks, the way that it's going to facilitate the business. And more specifically, I wanted it to be, I wanted to be in Clayton. I live right outside of Clayton. I spend a ton of time here shopping and, drinking coffee at City Coffee and doing all the things that all of you do as well. So it was important for me to have a location that was something that was meaningful to me and then where I thought would do well, obviously. But I also think that it's going to provide tremendous value to Clayton itself. So the class sizes, I don't know if you saw the little letter that I wrote, but are generally about 20 to 25 participants. The parking garage at Forsyth Point allows for plenty of parking for the patrons, which will be very nice. And we'll have... several classes a day. So I think on a given day, your throughput is probably going to be, you know, in excess of 150 to 200 people passing through Clayton, which is great. I think it'll be tremendously valuable for the tenants of Foresight Point, but also for the people who live, work and play all around, all around Clayton, just like where I live with my wife and kids. And we'll come in and use the studio, and I hope a lot of other people will as well. So I'm happy to answer any questions you have about the company, about the concept, about why I'm excited to put it in Clayton. But I certainly appreciate your thoughtfulness and consideration in granting the conditional use permit. So thank you all.

I'm sure we'll have a few comments. It is only a general conditional use permit that we're looking at, but the drawings that were submitted, some of them just don't seem to go together. Were they from some of your other locations also?

Yeah, Steve. So the pictures that you saw were just pictures of other open stride studios across the country. The intent there was just to give you a feel for kind of what the inside of a studio looks like. So Stride exists in, I don't know exactly right now, maybe 12 cities nationally. There aren't any Stride studios in St. Louis. And to be clear, this is my first time owning a Stride franchise. So yeah, I was just trying to give the group a feel for, hey, what does the inside of one of these studios look like if you were to walk into Stride tomorrow and do a workout?

Well, of course, we're excited to have you come in. I believe in stock, you may correct me if I'm wrong. I believe you would be the second tenant in Forsyth Point

on the ground floor. Is that correct? The first? Well, that's even better. What about First Watch?

Oh, well, that is correct. But that's in the commerce side of it.

OK.

Yes.

Well, welcome to be the first.

Whatever number I am, I would certainly take it. He's never wanted our

hearts. Good. Well, we'll go around and see if there are any other comments. Carolyn? Thank you for your time.

I actually don't have any comments on that. I think it's great. Great idea.

Bridget?

No, I don't have any either. Welcome to Clayton.

Bob?

I think if all the Clayton residents who go to your place to work out, come out as healthy looking as you, it's great for the city. Welcome.

Ellen?

I think it's a great idea. So good luck and welcome.

David? No questions or comments. Looks good. Okay.

We do need a motion to recommend approval of the CUP to the Board of Aldermen.

I'll make a motion to approve the CUP to Board of Aldermens.

Second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Okay, thank you. We'll move on to item number three. And Scott, you're still here, so... Stay here. Ryan?

So the subject property is the Forsyth Point development at Brentwood and Forsyth. Back on November 7th of last year, this board approved a signed sub-district for Forsyth Point that outlined size, material, and location requirements for new signs. The applicant is seeking to amend the requirements of the sub-district to modify two locations. One location is a wall at the entrance of the eastern tower. The sign will be non-illuminated aluminum and will feature the tower's name. The other location changes the form of a previously proved ground sign. The sign would be made of aluminum and illuminated internally. Staff is of the opinion that these proposed signs are compatible with other signage on the property as well as the surrounding area and recommends approval as submitted.

Come

on back. Scott Haley. Really, we're here tonight because the monument sign that was in there was actually in the package that you reviewed last time. It was just not identified as such. So I guess that was just really an oversight of all the information that was in the package previously. It is almost a duplicate of the sign that's across the street on the south side of Forsyth at their current tower. So they're keeping that same look on the new Commerce Tower at 8001 Forsyth. The other little sign is going to be that sign that's going to be on the plaza side, that was not attached to the prior submission, but was part of the commerce desire to have. So that's the second sign that Ryan and the staff report referred to. The non-illuminated sign, it's gonna be the cladded tile on that west wall of their plaza, so.

Okay, so what we're looking at is we have the ground monument sign. Yes, sir. That matches the existing Commerce Bank signs across the street. But it adds Hush Blackwell to it. It does. Okay. And then we have, so it says Commerce Bank and Hush Blackwell. And as you're looking at it, you see another sign on the tile wall under cover. that says Commerce Bank Tower. Correct. And so we've got two references to Commerce Bank. That is correct. And then if you look up on the face of the building above the first floor level, we see Hush Blackwell again. So essentially in the same plane, we have two Hush Blackwells. and one Commerce Bank sign at the eastern facade of the building, and one Commerce Bank tower sign 20 or 25 feet behind it. Am I reading everything correctly?

I hear what you're saying on that. Do you want a response? I'm here on behalf of Commerce, but Um, there's, I don't think we had Denny's not here tonight because he was ill, but I, I think I can answer those questions for you. I think the, um, let's say the eyebrow signage that you refer to, I think all three of these signs play a different depending on your justice position. I think the eyebrow sign is something that gets seen, you know, a block, block and a half, or even two blocks away. The monument sign is more at the ground level pedestrian feel. Um, and you don't see the eyebrow sign at that point, but on the monument sign you do if you're on that street right there or walking on the sidewalk. And the identification of the smaller sign that's on the cladded wall is representative once you're inside on the plaza, on the interior of the, inside the private property on that front. So I think from my perspective, I looked at it as, Each one of those signs has three different functionalities to say that's how my perspective has been on that.

Well, if I recall from the previous time we looked at the signage, that we did say there could be some eyebrow signs on the building. Right. So I'm not saying that it's out of place. It just seems... Even though I hear your comments on it seems like somewhat of a duplication on that side. Let's see if there are other comments. Carolyn.

I had similar concerns about mostly about the eyebrow one. Being so prominent. Building, but I understand what you're saying about the different perspectives of when you're walking in a car. And then the other commerce one is, you wouldn't probably see that until you're in the building or in that little space there. So I mean, I'm not really seeing, what is the eyebrow one made of? What is the material? I'm not seeing that. I'm just not seeing it right now.

The eyebrow sign was previously approved, Carolyn. It's an aluminum with backlighting. Okay.

I think that's OK, if it was something that was in your face. That's all I had on that.

Richard?

I don't

have any

other comments.

No comments. Ellen.

I share Steve's concerns. So Steve took all my comments.

Amy.

to be just those two monument that you see there. And then there'll be an eyebrow that's on the foresight side and South side. And then hushes hush Blackwell is on the East side of the building. And I think those were the ones that were identified previously at the last meeting. Correct. I

I appreciate that. I think again, I think for at least for the monument sign, that was just representative, but it wasn't identified as a monument side. So unless you have ESP and what was there that night, you would not have seen it obviously. But if I appreciate the comments and hear it, if you guys, want to take action on that. And if it's not in an affirmative, I'd like to defer that section so we could have Denny or somebody with Commerce Bank rather than just through me on that. I appreciate that.

Well, first,

I don't have any comments.

From what you said, Scott, I just re-walked and re-drove. And as you're coming up the hill, from Bemiston to Central, you would be able to see the eyebrow sign. And you would not be able to see brown side. So

I think I'm okay with it.

Okay, great.

Just for clarity too, Chairman. Just for clarity, the signs that are proposed, I know on the package they identify specific tenant names. However, this is an amendment to a signed sub-district. So approving them does not mean that it will always and forever say Commerce and Hush Blackwell on that sign. This is where they would be allowed to have signage. So the actual tenant names could be changed in the future, but the size, location, and materials would be the same.

Thank you. Any further comments? Any comments from the audience? All right, no hands raised. All right, thank you. We have a staff recommendation to approve as submitted.

Second.

I'll make a motion to approve as submitted

.

Second. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Okay. Thanks, Scott. Move

on to item four, 8110 Roxboro Drive. Oh, okay, they're online. Okay, Ryan.

So the subject property is located on the south side of Roxbrook Drive between Sudbury Drive and Francis Place. Property is zoned R4 and is located in the Glacier Urban Design District. The property is developed with a two-story multifamily building with below grade parking. The parking is accessed via a driveway that descends below grade to garage doors on both the east and west sides of the building. The earth surrounding the driveways are held back by concrete retaining walls. The project consists of the replacement of a retaining wall on the east side of this property. Retaining walls are common on the street as most properties experience a slope and have below grade parking. Nearby walls are usually comprised of concrete center block or standard modular block. The project proposes the replacement of a concrete retaining wall with a standard modular VersaLock. The VersaLock has a textured face and straight lined edges and has a varying brown earth tone color. Guidelines for new retaining walls require that modular blocks comprise of three different sizes, varying color and tumbled or rolled edges. The Clayshire Urban Design District also prohibits the use of wood ties, VersaLock, Keystone, Windsor or similar modular block systems that are visible from the street or from the ground level of any adjoining residents. Yeah, adjoining residents as proposed. The new wall will not meet the architectural guidelines for modular blocks or the ClayShare material requirements. Staff is recommending approval with the following condition that a material shall be selected that complies with the architectural review guidelines for new retaining walls and the ClayShare subdivision ARD for urban design zoning district requirements.

Okay, thank you. Whoever's representing 8110 Roxborough, You could identify yourself.

Is it Adam Rose? If you could unmute yourself and give

us any further comments.

Yes, I'm Adam Rose with done right landscapes.

Are you aware of the staff report? No, sir. Well, basically what you have submitted does not match the Clayton Garden Urban Design District or the Clayshire Subdivision Urban Design District. And staff is recommending that you meet the requirements of the district.

Gotcha. Yeah, I can review that. And then what are the recommended requirements or recommendations?

Well, according to the staff report, you would have a choice of using Versalock, Keystone, Windsor, or similar modular block systems in the retaining wall.

Those are the prohibited materials.

Um, yeah, I skipped a part. Um, my suggestion is since you're unfamiliar that at this point, uh, you contact the staff, uh, and have the materials put in, um, described to you.

Okay. Yeah, I can contact them. And then, uh, Yeah, because it's proposed with VersaLock and that's not a material that they're approving is what you're saying? That's correct. Okay. Well, then I'll reach out to them and then we'll update the material options and go from there.

Okay. And what we will do is we will postpone this to a future meeting.

Okay. Yeah, I can. Sounds like a plan. Okay.

Um, our city managers just recommended that, uh, to move it along. We could have you submit the materials directly to the staff for approval.

Okay.

Are you comfortable with that?

Yes, sir. Yeah, I can do that too.

Okay. Okay. Then we will make a, we will make a motion to that effect.

Okay, thank you. i'll make a motion. i'll make emotion that the materials approved by architecture review board and they share district subdivision district. recommended by staff to the applicant and the applicant return with the appropriate materials that comply. and the staff would have the right to approve or

disapprove. Are we not making a motion to approve the staff report subject to having the materials

approved? Yep. That's much fewer.

Second.

All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Okay, thank you, Mr. Rose.

Thank you so much.

Okay. I think our next one is number one cars will drive. Is the applicant here? Okay. Okay, we'll get started.

Hello.

The subject property is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Carswell Drive and Y-Down Boulevard. The property is owned R1 and is developed with a single family home. The project scope includes the reconfiguration of the driveway and garage access, a new fence, reconfigured patios, and landscape changes. The Carswell neighborhood can be characterized by large lots comprising of single family homes and abundant green space. The existing driveway, which currently encircles the primary structure will be reconfigured to approach the south and east of the primary structure. Reconfiguration will accompany revisions to the existing window and door openings on the north and east elevations to accommodate new kitchen and garage access. The entrance to the existing garage will be moved from the north elevation to the east elevation, and western red cedar carriage doors are proposed. A new fence is proposed to enclose a portion of the yard. The fence is proposed to be black metal with 48 inches tall. Landscaping is proposed at various points on the property. However, the removal of many large existing trees is not proposed. Along the north side of the home where the driveway Previously was, or where the driveway is proposed to be removed, there are improved patios proposed. The project buys by the requirements of the R1 district and staff is of the opinion that the proposed project is compatible in terms of use and materials with the subject property and surrounding area. Staff recommends approval is submitted. Okay,

thank you. Any comments from the... applicant, Mr. Pozzo?

Yes, Scott Pozzo with Choteau Building Group. I mean, I think Brian's summary pretty much encapsulates what we're looking for. Currently, the driveway goes completely around the house, which basically renders no backyard. So this is largely a move to let our client, the homeowner, gain some yard space and it nets out to improve with more green space on the property, less paved area.

Okay. I think it looks great. It will clean up the property, make it look very good because it's very visible from Y down Boulevard. Yes. And it'll also make it a lot more functional for the family that either lives there or is moving in. So I really have no problems, but let's see anyone else. Carolyn?

I didn't have any problems with it per se. As a landscape architect and an arborist, I would encourage you to be extremely almost surgical about how you move some of that edging and also how you put the fence in. just be really careful of the proximity to the trees and the critical root zones, especially the driveway, that one particular tree, which I did not walk up your driveway. I do walk your neighborhood all the time because I'm on little cars. But yeah, there's one tree that's to the east of the house that is within 10 feet. The trunk is within 10 feet of the new proposed driveway. So just be very, very careful That's all probably feeding roots that are right there.

Okay, and we do have the homeowner already has retained on our wrist. Perfect. Consulting, so we'll make sure to get their oversight prior to the work.

Great. All right, thank you.

Sure.

I don't have any comments.

Helen?

I think it looks good, and I have no further comments.

Amy?

No further comments.

And David, no comments. Okay. Any comments from the audience? No. We do have a recommendation to approve as submitted.

I'll make a motion to approve as submitted

second. All in favor. Aye. Opposed. Okay.

Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you. We'll move

on to item six, which is 7733 Kingsbury. And the applicant is here so we can get started.

The subject property is located on the north side of Kingsbury Avenue at the T intersection with Linden Avenue. The property is zoned R4 low density multiple family dwelling district and is developed with a single family home. The project scope consists of the construction of a one-story residential addition, new sidewalk, and refinishing the existing basement. Buildings in their surrounding area are a combination of single family and multiple family structures. Nearby materials include a variety such as wood, stone, stucco, brick, and shingle siding, all in a variety of colors. The proposed addition will match the existing building materials with a gray wood siding. As for... has proposed it meets setback and coverage requirements for the R4 zoning district. The staff is of the opinion that the proposed addition will result in a minimal visual impact and is compatible with both the existing structure and surrounding neighborhoods. Staff recommends approval as submitted.

Thank you. The applicant, thank you for

waiting around, but come on up. Essentially, we're trying to make

115. You could

tell us who you are.

Sorry about that. I haven't had it off in months. We're trying to take a house that's 115 years old and make it more usable for the occupants of that house. Currently, when you walk into the house, you walk directly into their living room. There's no evidence of privacy whatsoever. We're making a discreet entry to the right of that next to the driveway, and then we're bringing more light into the house with additional skylights. Other than that, we're basically trying to keep it looking as much as possible like the original. We've taken the roof pitch PB, Harmon Zuckerman, That is currently on the old screen porch which has been closed in and we're going to continue that roof pitch on the new part, so that the scale of it remains the same materials will all be identical to the

existing ones. PB, Harmon Zuckerberg, And i'm happy to answer any questions.

um. The original house, the front door is in the bay that sticks out? Correct. And it'll be moved to the east? Correct. And be recessed so you don't enter directly into the living

room? Right, there'll be a discreet entry there.

And then the porch that is currently to the west of the current front door, is that enclosed now?

There's a porch in front of the current front door that has a roof over it, but it's open. And that was one of the owner's desires was to make sure that they had that open porch. And so what we've done is we've farmed a new open porch at the west end of the property that will have a roof over, but it'll be open.

Now I get it. Okay.

I think it's a good looking addition that makes the house a lot more functional and it keeps the charming character of that hundred plus year old house.

That's what we wanted to do. We've seen enough of the mega mansions that we have in our neighborhood, like to keep something of the old.

Good. Well, let's see about other comments, Carolyn.

The only comment that I have are about the drawings.

I love

the hand-drawn drawings, but I had a really hard time reading them. And I guess before the meeting. Well, they've

been reduced in size considerably.

But maybe if we had 11 by 17, it would have been easier.

I've got a full-size set if you want to look at them.

What are the stairs made of?

The stairs are going to be an artificial material that is exactly what they have on their current stairs. It's a man-made decking material that's a gray.

So it's like a recycled lumber?

Right, that type of thing, yeah. Yes,

vinyl is really the only

one. I just want to make sure. I didn't really have anything else. I think it looks like a nice project.

Bridget?

I don't have any other comments. Looks nice.

No comments. Helen?

No comments.

Amy? I

think it looks great.

Thank you. David? No comments. Any other comments from the audience?

There are no hands up. Will we do have a staff recommendation to approve as submitted?

I'll make a motion to approve as submitted.

Second. All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? Okay, good luck with it. Thank you, sir. We'll be looking for the final build

out. Hopefully it'll be soon.

Good. We've come to the end of the agenda business, but we have one more and that's to discuss again about the comprehensive plan that's coming up. And Ana, do you want to start out with it or?

Sure. Well, I have the three packets for those of you that will be serving on the interview committee as last week was the deadline for that. We have all of our responses and we're looking to have everybody involved with the interview panel complete reviews of these packages by the end of this week because we have the majority of our teams involve at least one out-of-town member. And so in order to give them enough time to get here for in-person interviews at the end of this month, we'd really like to make those notices by the beginning of next week. So I have the packets here for those that will be serving in that role. Just a friendly reminder, we do have the live interest form for the at-large steering committee representatives. We'll be accepting those applications through the end of March, and then the interview panel will kind of reconvene at that point to review those and solidify the steering committee in April.

Do you have something hidden that you want to pass out?

Well, for the three members, I know that we spoke earlier today. I didn't know if you guys at all discussed and everybody knows who the three are or if you need me

to

ceremoniously announce.

You're the first volunteer. Yeah, what we... What we did have to go through it, and of course, three of us will be on the interview committee. Three of us will be the steering committee. And on the interview committee will be Carolyn, Ellen, and Kami. And the steering committee will be Bridget, Bob and me at this point. And of course the steering committee will be open meetings. The interview committee will not be open because that has contractual obligations with the city.

State those all correctly. Okay.

Did I leave anything out?

No, I don't think so. So the interview panel, I'll give you your packets. Feel free to contact me as you go through these. Like Steve said, these items, we aren't posting all of this. So you just ask me if you have any questions going through what we'll need and then we'll follow back up. I will ask and it's in here as well in a little letter. Right now, we're targeting the last week of February, February 27th, that week for the interviews. So if you, Carolyn and Helen and Kami can check your calendars and just send me if there are any dates during that week or time blocks that you know will be hard for you to make or you'll be unavailable, let me know for those and we'll follow up to try to get some times.

If I may ask, how many companies have... Right, we

received

six responses. Very good.

I believe you indicated that the form for citizens to apply is online. It is. At this point. Yes. And I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it to anyone, but I have mentioned it to several people. in the city that they should go online. And if they so desire, sign up. And I believe we'll be taking three people. Is that correct?

Right now, that's what we kind of projected. So when we get responses and everything, we'll look out because I know there were some comments from you all and the Board of Aldermen that the goal is really to make sure we do have a good variety of representation on that. So we'll keep that in mind and make any adjustments that may be necessary to ensure we do so. So it's live right now. It's on the comprehensive plan page of the website. We put it there because that also contains copies of the PowerPoint presentations that we've gone through that give the good introduction to what a comprehensive plan is, as well as kind of an overview of what the steering committee would be just to kind of help people understand what they would be volunteering for. So definitely encourage people to visit that page of the website just for information about how they can participate or if they specifically want to be on the steering committee, that'd be great.

Anything else we need to accomplish tonight?

No,

that's all. Okay.

Well, let's go around. Kami, any comments?

Nothing further.

Helen?

Nothing more.

Bridget? Carolyn? David? Nothing. Ryan? Nope. Stephanie?

Anna?

Okay, I will not be here at the next meeting. I think you knew that. But I'll see you in about a month. So with that, we're adjourned. See you soon.

Have fun.