Council hears conditional-use request to operate lawn-care business at 3151 Hopewell Road; vote set in two weeks

The St. Charles County Council opened a public hearing on a conditional-use permit application to operate a lawn-care business at 3151 Hopewell Road and set a final vote for two weeks from tonight.

County staff explained the application and recommended approval as consistent with Section 405.510(b) of the county code. Robert, county staff, told the council that a lawn-care service in a single-family residential zoning district "must be contained all indoors. Everything must be indoors other than for employee vehicles." He also said the property previously held a conditional-use permit in 2015 that expired after two years and was rezoned to RR (single-family residential) in 2019.

Elizabeth Lum, attorney for the applicant, described the proposal: retain an existing metal building, construct a second building behind it, pave the driveway and surrounding areas, install a sight‑proof vinyl enclosure fence, add landscaping buffers and operate roughly between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. She said the applicant "was told up to 11" employees, and that most staff would leave the site during the day to work at client locations.

Arnie Dienoff, County Public Advocate, testified in favor of allowing the business to operate in the area in the short term but urged the council to require safeguards. Dienoff said the area is poised for residential development and noted noise and contamination concerns, asking the council to require compliance with Missouri Department of Natural Resources and county community-development standards for runoff and retention. He also urged a condition that the applicant contribute to Hopewell Road improvements along its frontage, saying such contributions are requested elsewhere in the county.

The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on April 16; commissioners recommended approval 7–0 with conditions intended to limit land-use impacts. Staff reiterated the conditions that equipment and operations be primarily indoors, allow employee vehicle parking, and implement screening and landscaping.

No final action was taken by the council tonight; the public‑hearing portion closed and the council will consider the permit and related ordinance at its next meeting.

Details from the staff report and the Planning and Zoning record were cited repeatedly during discussion; the council did not vote on the item tonight.