Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Floodplain Variance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wildwood board approves floodplain variance to rebuild deck and patio at Sarah Matthews Lane home
Summary
The City of Wildwood Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a variance to allow a replacement deck, stairs and lower patio at 1108 Sarah Matthews Lane to be placed at the edge of the 100‑year floodplain, conditioned on Public Works requirements and permitting within six months.
The City of Wildwood Board of Adjustment on Aug. 14 approved a variance allowing a homeowner to replace a rear sundeck with a new deck, stairs and a lower flagstone patio that will sit at the edge of the 100‑year floodplain at 1108 Sarah Matthews Lane.
The board voted unanimously to grant the variance with the condition that the project meet all requirements of the Department of Public Works during construction.
The request, filed as BA16‑25 for property owners identified in the record as the Taylors, asks the board to allow the new structures to encroach into a 50‑foot setback from the special flood hazard area and to have a zero‑foot setback from the floodplain boundary. The 3.37‑acre lot lies in the 3 Sisters Farm subdivision and is bisected along its eastern property line by Bonham Creek, creating an area of special flood hazard that now includes a corner of the existing dwelling.
Robin Keith, planner with the Department of Planning, told the board the department supports the variance and recommended conditions. Keith said that the Department of Public Works had reviewed the plans and “believe[s] that the project is in compliance with the city's floodplain standards” but conditioned approval on meeting Public Works requirements throughout construction.
Petitioner Jory Taylor, who identified himself as the owner at 1108 Sarah Matthews Lane, said he was “very excited about the new flood maps” that the state is finalizing and that influenced the timing of the request. Taylor told the board the proposal replaces structures in the existing footprint and noted prior approvals for similar work: a 2004 variance for the current sundeck and a 2021 variance for a larger project that was never built.
Planning staff explained that an update of floodplain maps adopted in 2015 moved the mapped floodplain westward and that a newer state map under review would likely remove most of the floodplain from the property; staff said an earlier city engineer analysis estimated the new map would reduce the mapped floodplain by nearly 250 feet.
Board Chair Jared Frank called for the roll call vote after the motion and announced the decision: “Congratulations. Your variance is approved with the stated conditions.” The board recorded all votes as approval.
The variance carries the usual 6‑month period for obtaining permits or establishing the authorized use before the approval expires; the board reminded the petitioner of that deadline and the 30‑day appeal right to St. Louis County Circuit Court for any unfavorable decision.
