Webster Groves council approves conditional use permits for Children’s Hospital and KVC behavioral health facility at 330 N. Gore Ave.

The Webster Groves City Council voted unanimously to adopt Bill 9,274, an ordinance amending the zoning map and approving two conditional use permits (CUPs) for an institutional use and an inpatient hospital at 330 North Gore Avenue, with St. Louis Children’s Hospital as petitioner and KVC Behavioral Healthcare Missouri Inc. as the property owner.

Council members and staff said they revised the ordinance to address neighbors’ concerns about “mission creep,” limiting future uses to what the applicants described in their June 3, 2024 application and making the CUPs personal to the applicants rather than running with the land.

City Attorney Neil explained that the amended ordinance “referred back to the application itself” and “limited the uses to those things that are described in the application,” incorporating by reference the application letter and its descriptions so the city can enforce those representations. He also said the CUPs were revised so they are tied to the applicants; if KVC or the hospital withdraw, any successor would have to file a new application.

Planning staff emphasized how the project fits the city’s planning documents and development standards. Planning staff Robert said the proposal calls for minimum open space and significant building setbacks and noted the project’s alignment with the future land-use guidance in the 1978 comprehensive plan and later amendments. He said conditional-use review and the subsequent site-development plan process give the planning commission and council authority to address traffic, landscaping, stormwater and related site details.

Public commenters included Alec Hill of 247 South Forest, who spoke in favor of the KVC proposal and described a personal family history that, he said, motivates his support: “I do wanna speak briefly in favor of the KVC proposal because it hits so close to home.” Andrew, a licensed clinical psychologist in the St. Louis area, asked how community members could help with planning and implementation and requested contact information for the applicants.

Council discussion repeatedly referenced neighbors’ traffic and landscaping concerns and emphasized enforcement mechanisms included in the amended ordinance. The city attorney pointed to section 53.179 of the municipal code, which provides the council authority to suspend and reinstate conditional use permits if conditions are violated.

Action and votes: Council member Franklin moved to consider the amended version of Bill 9,274. The council voted to approve the amendment (recorded votes: Council member Bliss — yes; Council member Franklin — yes; Council member Smith — yes; Council member Alexander — yes; Council member Hixson Shepherd — yes; Council member Hasselmeier — yes; Mayor Arnold — yes). Council member Hasselmeier then called for the third and final reading and adoption of Bill 9,274 as amended; the ordinance passed by the same recorded unanimous vote.

The approvals authorize the hospital and institutional CUPs only as described in the June 3, 2024 application (the application letter and exhibits are part of the record), require subsequent site development plan review and give the council remedies under city code if permit conditions are violated. City staff and the planning commission will continue to review site-level issues (parking, traffic, landscaping, stormwater) during the site-development plan process. If either applicant withdraws, a new CUP application will be required.

Votes at a glance: Bill 9,274 — adopted, unanimous.

Provenance: topic introduction and final discussion on the ordinance are recorded in the meeting transcript where council moved from public comment to consideration of Bill 9,274 and where votes on the amendment and final adoption were recorded.