MAY 12, 2008
LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
The Landmarks and Historic District Commission of the City of Florissant met at the
Florissant City Hall on Monday May 12, 2008 in the second floor conference room at
7:00 p.m., with Howard Nimmoris presiding.
On roll call the following members were present: Gary Meyer, Joe Schulte, Marion
McGuinn, Howard Nimmons and Edward Keil. Also in attendance were John Morgan,
Building Commissioner, Cynthia Treiber, Recording Clerk, Gene Reynolds with Ace
Learning Centers and Mark Behlmann. A quorum being present the Chair declared the
Landmarks and Historic District Commission (LHDC) was in session for the transaction
of business.
NEW BUSINESS
Item 1 209 Rue St. Louis Rep. By: Mark J. Behlmann
Ace Learning Centers 2160 N. Waterford Ward 6 Florissant MO 63033
Request recommended approval of the architect design of a new building.
The Chair stated that item one on the agenda was the proposed building at 209 Rue St. Louis, Ace Learning Center. Mr. Behlmann stated that the property was located at the corner of ST. Ferdinand and St. Louis Street, currently known as the Miller property. Mr. BeHmann stated that Mr. Reynolds had a contingent contract to purchase the referenced property and was looking to build a new building similar to the Robbins building that was directly down the street. Mr. Behlmann stated that the building would be a two story that consist of thirty two hundred square feet with an unfinished basement. Mr. Behlmann stated that there would be extensive grading required to be done to the referenced property. Mr. Behlmann stated that if someone was standing across the street at the park looking at the lot the left side would be the highest side sloping to St. Louis Street with a fourteen foot elevation difference and they would be cuffing the back corner down and boarding the parking lot with a retaining wall. Mr. Behlmann stated that the retaining wall would be five feet off the property line with trees planted in the upper area, Mr. Behlmann stated that according to the staff report there would be more than enough room to adjust the planting area to six foot as
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suggested. Mr. Behlmann stated that they would be planting trees between the residential properties to the North arid the east. Mr. Behimarin stated that currently there were frees on the property to the North and they did not know if the frees were on this property or the neighboring residential property. Mr. Behlmann stated that they would need a zoning change from Historical residential to Historic Business to allow for this building.
Mr. Behlmann stated that the color scheme would be similar to the Robbins building, however instead of silver gray and maroon the proposed building would be silver gray with hunter green. Mr. Behlmann stated that the proposed building would have a full hip roof as opposed to the hip and gable mixed on the Robbins building with the front porch and balcony being similar to the Robbins building. Mr. Behlmann stated that the width of the new building would be the same as the Robbins building with the depth being five feet narrower. Mr. Behlmann stated that the business would be dealing in education and the proposed building would be the office building for seven employees.
Mr. Nimmons asked Mr. Behlmann for more details on the retaining wall. Mr. Behlmann stated that the wall was a concrete decorative block that was typically used for garden planters in the area. Mr. Behlmann stated that the back of the wall in the north east corner would be five feet in height and would stagger down the east property line which was 160 feet from 501 down to 490. Mr. Behlmann stated that the retaining wall elevation would drop in slope of eleven feet. Mr. Behhnann stated that the north property line back wall would start at 501 sloping to the front of the building to 495 and ½ with smaller blocks stepping down towards St. Ferdinand. Mr. Behlmann stated that the natural water drainage would drain from the rear of the building down the side. Mr. Behlmann stated that in the back of the property the water would drain to the south handicap parking area. Mr. Behlmann stated that they would be working with MSD on the entrance approach with more than likely a drain grate that would go from curb to curb. Mr. Behlmann stated that all the water would drain from parking lots 1 & 18 down to 9 & 10 with a drive across grate. Mr. Behlmann stated that they anticipated MSD giving them approval to tie into a storm man hole located at the front corner of the enter section of St. Ferdinand and St. Louis Street or they may have to add a man hole.
Mr. Nimmons asked for more details on what the view would be for the neighboring residents looking onto the proposed new building. Mr. Behlmann stated that the property to the east from the back of their house would be looking into the back of the second floor windows and the properties at the back and to the north were actually higher in elevation. Mr. Schulte stated that if a property was not a Landmark that a fence or a plant area of at least six feet would be required, therefore he would want to see six feet of plant area.
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Mr. Ninimons asked about what kind of frees that were going to be planted. Mr. Behlmann stated that they had intended on planting pine frees across the back and to the north with leave frees in the front and both sides of the approach such as a pin oak. Mr. Schulte had concerns of planting frees around the utility lines. Mr. Behlmann stated that there were power lines on ST. Louis Street with a telephone pole on the rear southeast corner and power lines on the north property line as well. Mr. Behlmann stated that Union Electric would dictate where they would hook up their electric. Mr. Schulte stated that he had concerns of planting frees under the power lines. Mr. Behlmann stated that if they were to utilize the pole at the back at the northeast corner then his recommendation would be to go underground. Mr. Behlmann stated that currently where the property lines were on St. Louis Street there was a clump of frees that would need to be removed, so there was quite a bit of site preparations to be done to the lot. Mr. Schulte stated that they may want to consider what kind of frees to plant under the existing power lines and consult with an arborist to see what would be best.
Mr. Schulte stated that he had concerns that the windows on the rear elevation did not match the rest of the building and he felt that they should. Mr. Behlmann stated that he did not have a problem with all the windows having grills and matching. Mr. Morgan stated that the windows could be made part of the recommendation. Mr. Nimmons asked how the lighting would affect the residential properties. Mr. Behlrnann stated that the light would be on the right side of the building where the porch and ramp were with dual flood lamps. Mr. Behlmann stated that the lamps would consist of four 100 amp lights on the front corner and would only light the handicap parking spaces and parking spaces 1, 2 and 3 in the front with no light standards in the parking lot. Mr. Kiel asked about the handicap ramp. Mr. Behlmann stated that the handicap spaces would be 17 and 18 that would approach the right side of the building where the porch was and to the left would be a ramp that would allow entrance in the front door. Mr. Behlmann stated that the handicap ramp was very inconspicuous. Mr. Kiel asked about signage. Mr. Behlmann stated that they did not have signage included at this time and would come back before the Commission at a later date for the signage. Mr. Kiel asked if Mr. Robbins had any concerns with them copying his building. Mr. Behlmann stated that it was not an exact copy and had some differences.
Mr. Schulte made a motion to recommend approval of the architect design with the planting area being six foot and all windows to be the same style. Seconded by Gary Meyer, on roll call the Commission voted; McGuinn yes, Meyer yes, Ninimons yes, Schulte yes and Kiel yes. Motion passes 5 to 0. Mr. Schulte made a motion to recommend approval to re-zone form HR to HB to allow for a new building, seconded by Mr. Nimmons. On roll call the Commission voted; McGuinn yes, Meyer yes, Ninimons yes Schulte yes and Kiel yes. Motion passes 5 to 0.
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Nimmons stated the next order of business was the May 5, 2008 minutes and asked if there were any corrections or amendments. Mr. Meyer made a motion to approve the May 5, 2008 minutes as submitted. Seconded by Mr. Kiel, all commission members concurred, motion passes.
MICELLANEOUS BUSINESS
Discussion on the 50th anniversary preservation movement.
Mr. Nimmons asked if anyone had anything regarding the 5QUi anniversary preservation movement, being nothing Mr. Ninimons made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Mr. Meyer. All Commission members concurred, meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted:
Cynthia Treiber,
Recording Clerk
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