Public hearing held on accessory‑dwelling special use permit at 1319 Forest Avenue

The Kirkwood City Council recessed to hear a public hearing on a new special use permit application to allow an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in a detached structure at 1319 Forest Avenue.

City Planner II Amy Lowry told the council the application is for a new special use permit (staff corrected an agenda typo that had called it an amendment) and showed site photos and a survey confirming the lot is approximately 1 acre, meeting the ADU minimum lot size requirement of 15,000 square feet. Lowry said the proposed detached ADU would be behind the principal structure, meet the R‑1 zoning setbacks (25‑foot side yard, 50‑foot rear yard), and be less than the maximum ADU size. She said the planned unit is 720 square feet (below the 750‑square‑foot maximum), would contain one bedroom and a kitchen area, and the structure height would be approximately 23 feet 7 inches (below the 24‑foot accessory‑structure limit). Architectural Review Board design review and MSD/stormwater review (if applicable) were noted as conditions.

Architect Charles Bell, speaking for owners Dr. Robert and Kim Abbott, said the site "fits the intention of the Kirkwood's Envision comprehensive plan" and that the team was available to answer questions. Council members asked whether Planning & Zoning had received public comments (Lowry said there were none and no emails) and whether any other accessory structures exist on the lot (Lowry: none besides a deck and spa, which do not count toward the 1,500‑square‑foot accessory threshold). One council member called the application "a great use of the ADU" and moved on to public comment.

There were no speakers from the public for this hearing. The council closed the public hearing and the bill to consider the special use permit will be placed on the June 18 agenda for first reading consideration.