Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting

Meeting Agenda

Meeting Minutes

Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING

CITY OF BALLWIN – 300 PARK DRIVE
March 1, 2004
The meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order by Chairman Michael Boland at 7:00 p.m.  Members in attendance were:

PRESENT                                                   ABSENT 
Michael Boland, Chairman                     Russ Mandziara 
Terry Byatt                                                  Tim Reisel 
Phyllis Erwin 
Ron Kadane
Frank Karr
Ed Montgomery 
Brad Underwood 
Alderman Kay Easter 
Mayor Robert E. Jones 
Assistant City Administrator Tom Aiken 
City Attorney Lou Lucchesi

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Commissioner Kadane and seconded by Commissioner Byatt to approve the Minutes of the February 2, 2004 meeting.  The motion received unanimous approval by the members present.

Z03-11– Zoning Ordinance Change, and SUB03-3 – Subdivision Petition – Ballwin Pointe Commons -- Fischer & Frichtel Inc. – 695 Trade Center Blvd, Suite 200 – Mr. John Fischer

Chairman Boland reminded the audience that the public hearings for both of these petitions were held at the previous meeting on February 2, 2004, and have been closed.  Chairman Boland stated that Mr. Tim Pogue submitted a letter to the Commission and confirmed that all members of the Commission received it, and a copy will be retained in the official record.

Mr. John King, attorney for the petitioners, addressed the Commission. Mr. King presented the revised site plan submitted by Fischer & Frichtel for the Ballwin Pointe Commons Subdivision.  Mr. King stated that the site has been reduced by three single-family units as well as three townhomes, dropping the total to 68 units.  He stated that eleven of the single-family lots are 10,000 square feet, and the remaining three are in excess of 9,600 square feet.  The space between the townhome units has been expanded from 10 feet up to as much as 32 feet.

Mr. King pointed out the sidewalks, and stated their intent to provide an 8’ walking path with exercise stations and a small amount of recreational equipment as part of the recreation requirement for the development.  He stated that trash pickup and snow removal in the private alley behind the townhomes would be part of the indentures, and would be part of the monthly fee paid by the owners of the townhomes.

Commissioner Kadane asked for clarification of the location of the walking trails, and if it would be on City property.  Mr. King stated that part of the trail would be on City property, tying in with City trails, but that the site could be modified to include the trail. Alderman Easter asked who would maintain the trail if it were on City property.  Mr. King stated that the subdivision trustees would maintain it if the City so desired.

Mr. King stated that the prices of the homes have changed due to the revisions of the plans.  He stated that the base price of $170,000 for the townhomes is now $175,000 up to $250,000.  The single-family homes with be priced from $275,000-$375,000, and the square footage on some of these homes will increase from 3,000 square feet to 3,250 square feet.

Chairman Boland asked if the townhome units would have a driveways.  Mr. King stated that they would each have a driveway that would fit two cars.

Commissioner Erwin asked if the private walkways (between the townhome buildings) would be lighted.  Mr. King stated that the developers would prefer not to light the areas between the buildings because they are not formal walkways and would not have sidewalks. Commissioner Byatt said that since people will use the area as a shortcut, she felt the developer should put in a 4’ sidewalk.  Chris DeGuentz of Fischer & Frichtel stated that they would prefer not to have planned walkways in between the buildings.  The majority of the Commission members agreed that interior walkways were not necessary.

Commissioner Karr stated that there should be lighting in the alleyway.  Mr. King and Mr. DeGuentz stated that all the garages would have coach lights on them.  Commissioner Erwin felt that owner-controlled lighting would not be adequate to light the alley.  Alderman Easter asked City Planner Aiken to comment on the lighting situation.  Mr. Aiken stated that if this were a roadway instead of a driveway, City ordinance would require a midpoint light in each block, and the length of the alleyway is equal to a city block.  He said that given the nature of the alleyways and the adjoining common ground, it would make more sense to have a streetlight at each intersection of an alleyway and a common ground area, for a total of four lights.  Mr. Aiken stated that those lights would be private lights on private property and would be the responsibility of the homeowner’s association.

Mayor Jones expressed concern about allowing the walking path on the west side of the development to be on City property.  Mr. Aiken stated that his thought was rather than have the developers build a 4’ concrete sidewalk on both sides of the street, they would build an asphalt walking path on the west side instead. This would tie in to the future path planned by the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation for the Pointe site.

Commissioner Kadane asked if the retention pond would be on City property.  Mr. Aiken stated that, as envisioned, part of the retention pond will be on City property.  Reciprocal easements and other details would have to be worked out between the City and the developer.

A motion was made by Commissioner Byatt and seconded by Commissioner Karr to recommend approval of petition Z03-11 to the Board of Aldermen.  The motion received unanimous approval from the Commission members present.

Mayor Jones stated that his opposition to the original site plan was having single-family lots that were smaller than 10,000 square feet.  He stated that the revised plan increased the average lot size by 1,634 square feet, giving the overall development an average lot size of 10,000 feet, and this allayed his concerns.

Commissioner Kadane asked about the stub road issue raised in the letter submitted by Tim Pogue.  Mr. Aiken stated that the stub road is a requirement of the subdivision ordinance, obligating developers to stub into adjoining parcels that are subject to future development.

Commissioner Erwin asked about parking for the multifamily units.  Mr. Aiken stated that each unit has two garage spaces and two driveway spaces in addition to street parking capability.  This is more than is required.

A motion was made by Commissioner Montgomery and seconded by Commissioner Kadane to recommend approval of petition SUB03-3 provided that the details of the streetlights in the alleyway, the walking path and the retention pond issues will be worked out.  The motion received unanimous approval from the Commission members present.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Commissioner Kadane and seconded by Commissioner Karr to adjourn the meeting.  The motion received unanimous approval.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

Michael Boland, Chairman
Zoning Commission

LB