Luke Land, a small-business owner who operates laundromats in St. Louis County and St. Charles, told the Olivette Planning and Community Design Commission on May 1 that he is exploring sites on Olive Boulevard and near the city’s business corridor and wants the city to consider updated guidance for modern laundromats.

Land said he is interested in a 5,500-square-foot destination laundromat and that Olivette’s land-use rules require a special-use permit for facilities under 5,000 square feet. He told commissioners that the city’s equipment guidance appears to “limit[] to a 50 pound use washing machine,” but his facilities use machines up to 100 pounds. “It’s limited to a 50 pound use washing machine,” Land said.

Commissioners and staff told Land they would review the code sections he raised and follow up. Don Doty, senior planner, said he did not recall the weight limit “being called out in the table.” City staff asked for time to check the land-use and business-regulation chapters and to coordinate with other departments; the commission asked staff to report back to Land so he can consider a potential site and any necessary special-use application.

City planning staff also reminded the public that Olivette will adopt the 2021 International Code Council (ICC) building codes effective July 1, 2025, and that St. Louis County will continue to enforce 2015 mechanical, electrical and plumbing codes under the county’s contract.

Land provided contact information and said he will follow up with city staff in the coming weeks. He described his concept as modern, card- and phone-payment based, not primarily coin-operated, and said his existing chain includes five stores.

The commission did not take formal action on the request; staff said they will review the relevant code language and report back to the petitioner and the commission.