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Kirkwood council holds hearing on loosening floor-area-ratio rules to enable home additions
Summary
The Kirkwood City Council held a public hearing on a proposed zoning text amendment to Section 25‑46(g) to change how floor‑area ratio (FAR) is measured and to allow certain additions on older houses so homeowners can add living space without increasing lot coverage.
The Kirkwood City Council held a public hearing on a proposed amendment to zoning code Section 25‑46(g) that would change how floor‑area ratio (FAR) is measured and allow some homeowners to add living space without increasing lot coverage.
City Planner II Amy Lowry explained the proposal and the study background, saying the change is intended to make it easier for owners of older homes to add space without demolishing and rebuilding. Lowry said the draft language would allow additions when the original occupancy permit was issued at least 10 years earlier and when the project does not increase existing lot coverage. She described FAR as "a measure of the total area of the building as a percentage of the lot" and contrasted it with lot coverage, which counts only ground‑floor footprint.
Supporters and skeptics told the council why the amendment matters. Tom Feiner, speaking during public comment, urged the council to adopt measures that let younger families stay in Kirkwood: "Anything that this council can do to permit people to stay in their homes so they can remain in Kirkwood without selling the house ... I think we need to encourage that." Council members debated whether the change would help attainable housing or primarily raise property values by increasing house bulk when owners later sell.
The Planning and Zoning Commission considered the proposal on May 7 and failed to recommend it to council by a 4‑3 vote; the commission discussed whether the amendment would meet the code's text‑amendment review criteria and whether it would achieve the stated attainable‑housing goals. Lowry told council the commission had been concerned about allowing partial demolitions and the original purpose of FAR regulations to limit overall house size.
During council discussion several members said they support the intent but want limits. One council member suggested restricting the change to particular zoning districts (for example, R‑3 and R‑4) or adding a cap on the percentage of floor area that may be added. Another member argued modest adoption could preserve some older homes and yield a small, steady increase in attainable units over time.
The public hearing was closed with no final council vote; the bill will appear on the June 18 council agenda for first reading consideration.
