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Commission forwards special‑use permit for Taste of Jiangnan restaurant to council, with exhaust and grease‑trap conditions
Summary
The Olivette Planning and Community Design Commission recommended City Council authorize a special‑use permit for Taste of Jiangnan (3,772 sq ft, 67 seats) at 9538 Olive Boulevard and conditioned approval on interior grease‑trap installation and rooftop exhaust routing; vote was unanimous.
On Oct. 16 the Planning and Community Design Commission voted unanimously to forward a recommendation to City Council to authorize a special‑use permit for "Taste of Jiangnan," a proposed 3,772‑square‑foot, 67‑seat Chinese restaurant at 9538 Olive Boulevard. The recommendation includes staff conditions requiring the kitchen hood/exhaust to be routed through the roof and the grease trap to be interior to the tenant space.
Staff presented the petition as an interior tenant change requiring a special‑use permit for restaurant use in an existing building. Outstanding items identified by staff included a signed parking agreement or purchase documentation for off‑site stalls, exhaust/hood routing and grease‑trap schematics, and interior finish plans prior to final permitting. Suraj Balal, representing the property owner EZ Storage, said the owner intends to purchase 12 parking stalls from the nearby Hollywood Lanes (rather than lease them) and will provide wayfinding as needed to direct patrons to overflow spaces. "We're not leasing it. We want to buy the parking lot," Balal said, describing the pending agreement for the spaces.
Commissioners emphasized that restaurant exhaust must be routed vertically and discharged at a sufficient distance from rooftop intakes and neighboring properties to avoid odors and nuisances. The proposed hours (applicant suggested roughly 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.) aligned with neighboring uses; staff noted compatibility with adjacent tenants provided the exhaust, grease trap and waste handling meet county and MSD requirements. The applicant confirmed a shared exterior dumpster enclosure will remain available for tenants, and noted that increased collection frequency can be scheduled to accommodate restaurant waste.
Commissioner Tim Spiegelglass moved to forward a favorable recommendation with conditions that the exhaust fan be routed through the roof and the grease trap be interior; Commissioner Sam Bullock seconded. The motion passed on a 6–0 roll call.
Staff will add the stipulated conditions to the recommendation packet for City Council and will require final lease/purchase documentation for off‑site parking and the detailed hood/grease‑trap engineering in the commercial permitting process.
