The Olivette City Council voted July 22, 2025, to grant a special permit allowing Fisher Rosemont Systems, doing business as Emerson, to place up to eight shipping containers for outdoor storage on its property at 9315 Olive Boulevard.

Carlos Trejo, director of planning and community development, described the site as a 12.65‑acre parcel with a 128,000‑square‑foot office/warehouse building in the Light Industrial District. The Planning and Community Design Commission recommended increasing the petitioner’s initial request from four containers to eight, and recommended locating containers in the rear parking islands near the existing generator, subject to site plan review. The commission and staff determined fencing and additional visual screening were not necessary given the property's location and existing site features.

Michael Nittles, Emerson site director, told the council the containers would store raw and packing materials used at peak production. "The location was selected because it is close to the generator, which is already kind of a large metal cube. So it would really blend with that. And it's also part of our plan to paint these a neutral color that would be complementary to the building and or generator it sits by," Nittles said. He also said the site has 24/7 security, exterior cameras and regular patrols and that containers would be accessed primarily by staff using pallet jacks or forklifts, not for routine external deliveries.

Staff said containers would rest on existing asphalt parking areas, would not exceed one container height and would be maintained with materials kept inside the containers rather than stored on the ground. The site does not abut a public street and surrounding industrial properties already have outdoor storage permits, which informed the commission’s finding that visual screening was not required.

Council discussion addressed concerns about the planned regional Greenway alignment through the old railroad corridor and the potential visual impact of containers; staff said Greenway designs are not finalized and any future amendments could be coordinated if needed. After public hearing and discussion the council approved the ordinance by recorded vote; the meeting record shows the motion passed and the bill became Ordinance 2818.

The special permit is conditioned on the submitted location, container height limit, and the requirement that outdoor materials be kept inside containers. Staff will monitor site compliance and coordinate with Greenway planners if designs change.