Commission continues review of proposed Westmoreland home after staff flags tree crowding and canopy shortfall

The Clayton Plan Commission on March 3 continued all reviews — site plan, architectural and conditional‑use permit — for a proposed demolition and new single‑family home with a detached garage and accessory dwelling unit at a Westmoreland Avenue address to allow the applicant to revise tree and landscape plans.

Staff reported the property is in an R‑2 zoning district and that the proposal would increase lot coverage from 48.7% to 52.1%, raising calculated stormwater runoff for a 15‑year, 20‑minute event from 0.46 cubic feet per second to 0.51 cfs (a 0.05 cfs increase). Staff said the proposed stormwater management includes a dry well in the front yard and that the system should be sufficient provided site soils percolation tests verify the dry well’s effectiveness. The city’s contracted landscape architect identified a 1,430 square‑foot canopy coverage deficiency that would require an $858 payment to the city forestry fund if not remedied on site, and expressed concern that tree crowding on the plan would limit tree longevity and could threaten a neighboring landmark tree.

Eric Vietmeyer of Volz Engineering explained the drainage design, including gutters routed to a dry well with front‑yard pop‑ups and an inlet in the rear yard that ties to front yard drainage. Megan Burks, a nearby homeowner at 7634 Westmoreland Avenue, told the commission she had consulted an arborist who warned the neighboring tree would likely decline once construction adjacent to it proceeds; she asked the applicant to coordinate with her about removal. Staff said tree protection or removal questions will be resolved as the applicant revises the landscape plan and that percolation tests would be performed during permitting to confirm the dry well design.

Architectural review generated discussion over massing and height. Staff described the proposed house as a larger, multi‑story design that includes a rear roof terrace, white brick and stone accents, steep gables and copper gutters. Commissioners raised concerns that the house’s massing, three story elements and roof peaks could appear taller than neighboring homes and asked the applicant to provide material samples and an accurate rendering that reflects the current flipped plan (the plan had been mirrored earlier to protect a large tree). Mike Thompson, the project architect, and Eric Vietmeyer agreed to provide additional materials and revised drawings when the item returns.

Given the landscape‑plan concerns and the city arborist’s comments, the commission voted to continue the site plan review to allow the applicant to revise the tree chart to reflect only on‑site trees and to reduce tree crowding; commissioners made separate motions to continue the architectural review and the conditional‑use permit portion so the full package can be considered together at a later meeting. The board recorded the continuations by voice vote with no opposition. Staff said they will require percolation testing for the proposed dry well during permitting and will confirm the street‑tree removal and replacement plan with the city arborist before the item returns to the commission.