Council holds first reading for special permit to allow full‑service restaurant at 9538 Olive Blvd.

The Olivette City Council on Oct. 28 held the first reading of Bill 3053, an ordinance that would authorize a special‑permit use to allow a 3,772–square‑foot full‑service restaurant at the lower retail level of the EZ Storage property at 9538 Olive Boulevard.

Planning Director Carlos Trejo told the council the applicant is seeking a full‑service classification and said, “the tenant under contract is called the Taste of Jiangnan. It's an Asian restaurant. It is, local. It's their first restaurant.” The bill as presented does not authorize a final permit; Trejo requested the first reading and said a public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 18 to accommodate publication and planning commission timing.

The ordinance would allow only the permitted restaurant type defined in the city’s code as full service — where staff take orders at tables and deliver food — meaning different forms of food service (drive‑thru, fast food, buffet) would require a separate review or amendment. Trejo explained the special‑permit approach is intended to match the city’s zoning definitions and to preserve council and commission oversight if the use or type of food service were to change.

Council members asked about parking and traffic circulation. Trejo said EZ Storage has worked with the neighboring property owner (Olive Lane/bowling alley) to lease and ultimately seek to purchase 16 additional stalls, and will restripe the lot to provide perpendicular parking. He noted there are existing cross‑access and lease agreements with the bowling alley and that the overall parcel will still provide more parking than the code requires. “They will lease and eventually, seek to purchase, 16 additional parking, stalls on the Olivet Lane property,” Trejo said.

Council members also discussed the developer’s Chapter 100 agreement, which Trejo described as a tax‑abatement tool used to reduce construction costs and property‑tax burdens during development; he contrasted it briefly with TIFs. Trejo said the city intentionally sought a sit‑down restaurant tenant that would generate sales tax and serve as a community gathering place, rather than a purely personal‑service or retail use.

Next steps: the council heard the first reading; a planning commission public hearing and the council’s Nov. 18 meeting will be the next formal opportunities for public comment and a final council decision. No final vote on the ordinance occurred on Oct. 28.