Council advances Webster Groves Presbyterian Church conditional-use permit for expanded event space

The Webster Groves City Council on April 1 took the first and second readings of an ordinance that would allow Webster Groves Presbyterian Church to renovate and reopen an on-site chapel (Woods Chapel) and adjacent rooms as a rentable event space for groups not affiliated with the church.

City planning staff and the Planning Commission characterized the request as a renovation and formalization of uses that have existed in the building; the application does not change zoning. The Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions, including compliance with the city’s d-commercial district regulations and limits on hours of operation. Planning staff told council the property has 90 private off-street spaces on two church-owned lots, plus 14 on-street spaces along the building frontage and noted city support for the request.

Brian Tobin, president of the church board of trustees, told council the renovations are intended primarily to improve the church’s ability to hold services and internal functions but also to accommodate outside groups; all food and beverage service for outside events would be catered, he said, not prepared on site. “This is not going to keep us from being a church,” Tobin said. “The event space will allow us to move what we normally do inside … into the front of the church.”

Actions and next steps The council heard planning staff’s presentation and accepted planning materials into the record. Council member Franklin called for the first and second readings of Bill 9279, an ordinance to grant the conditional-use permit; both readings were completed April 1. The council scheduled the third reading and final vote for the next council meeting.

Ending Council members noted the church’s long presence in the Old Webster business district and directed staff to finalize the CUP language for final consideration at the next meeting.