MINUTES
Planning
and Zoning Commission
March
23, 2009
The Clarkson Valley Planning and Zoning Commission, pursuant to notices
published in the West Newsmagazine on Wednesday, March 4th and the Clarkson
Valley website since February 23rd and letters mailed to residents living within
500' of the proposal on Friday, March 6th, met at City Hall on Monday, March 23,
2009 in the Fru-Con Center's third floor Presentation Room at 15933 Clayton Road
to consider one agenda item and to make a recommendation to the Board of
Aldermen.
Planning and Zoning Commission Members present were:
Susan Shea, Chairman, Alderperson, Ward 1
Artie Ahrens
Gregg Bogosian
Anne Grabner
Paul Mercurio
Newly appointed commission members, Jerry Litschgi and Lin Midyett were
welcomed and were there to observe.
Commissioner
Frank Hodgdon and Commission Members John Cloute, and Jack Hauser were not able
to attend.
The
City Clerk, Michele McMahon, also attended.
After the meeting was called to order, the Chairman asked the City Clerk
to read the Notice of Public Hearing for the agenda item being considered
tonight: To consider a request from Midwest Music for a special use permit for
signage larger than four (4) square feet at property known as 15977 Clayton Road
and to make a recommendation to the Board of Aldermen. Mr. Jerry Roberts, owner of Midwest Music Electronic
Services, Inc. was given the floor. However,
Mr. Greg Bogosian interjected he did not understand the
ordinance as it is written and would like to send the request back to the Board
of Aldermen that they re-write the code. Discussion
ensued as to why the code was written for signs not to exceed four (4) square
feet. Some members of the Commission indicated they would like to have
the code written with a pre-determined maximum size and the types of materials the city would like them to
consider, e.g. brick, stucco, etc.; and what style of lighting the city would
like to see. The chairman stated that
since discussion centered on the existing sign, request number (2) on the
Application would be discussed first.
Mrs. Shea shared with the Board various elevations of other signs in the
city that received special use permits, including one request in 2000 from
Ellisville United Methodist of a monument sign.
Through discussion, it was determined the church was using the existing
sign as a temporary sign. The
monument was placed on hold by the church, first because Clayton Road was being
widened. Then the church purchased
land in Wildwood and it was permanently put on hold. The Board Members spoke to Mr. Roberts about the
appearance of the sign, as it is now. Ann
Grabner said the grounds on which the music store sits has to be the least
attractive spot in Clarkson Valley. Further
stating that unfortunately, these signs make it more so.
A vote was taken to establish whether this commission considers the
existing sign on the property known as 15977 Clayton Road a permanent sign with
the following results: Yeas:
There were none. Nays: Ahrens,
Bogosian, Grabner, Mercurio and Shea. With
that established, the Commission asked Mr. Roberts if he has considered signage
attached to the building? Mr.
Roberts said he has, however the configuration of the building isn’t conducive
to that. He stated that the costs
of starting a new business in the current financial market have been higher than
expected, and that he is not financially able to install a monument sign at this
time. More discussion ensued, after
which time two more votes were taken.
A vote was taken to recommend to the Board of Aldermen that they issue a
Special Use Permit allowing this temporary sign for six (6) months, at which
time a plan must be submitted to City Hall for a monument sign.
Yeas: Bogosian and Grabner.
Nays: Ahrens, Mercurio and
Shea.
A vote was taken to recommend to the Board of Aldermen that they issue a
Special Use Permit allowing this temporary sign for four (4) months, at which
time a plan must be submitted to City Hall for a monument sign.
Yeas: Ahrens, Bogosian,
Grabner and Shea. Nays:
Mercurio. It was determined
Mr. Roberts could remove the tarp covering the temporary sign and the Board of
Aldermen would consider this proposal April 7.
The Application for a Hearing Before Planning and Zoning was discussed
and Mr. Roberts explained why he stated on the application (1) Change lettering
on existing sign to reflect new occupant. He
said he was under the assumption it was a previously approved and permitted sign
and he wanted to receive this Commission’s permission to change the text from Ellisville
United Methodist to Midwest Music.
Since this was not an approved sign, he stated he would like that request
removed from the Application. A
vote was taken to remove the first item on the application with the following
result: Yeas:
Ahrens, Bogosian, Grabner and Shea.
Nays: Mercurio.
Item
number three was then discussed: (3)
Approve usage of small portable sign. There
was no discussion. A vote was taken
with the following results: Yeas:
There were none. Nays: Ahrens, Bogosian, Grabner, Mercurio and Shea
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Susan
Shea
Planning
and Zoning Commission
City
of Clarkson Valley