Creve Coeur commission backs draft zoning change to allow larger site coverage for membership organizations

The Creve Coeur Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend a zoning text amendment that would let certain membership organizations in residential districts increase allowable nonresidential site coverage from the current default of 25% to as much as 50% and would explicitly exempt pool decks, patios and outdoor recreation surfaces from coverage calculations.

Jason Jagie, director of community development for the city, told commissioners the proposal is a text amendment — brought by applicants including the Saint Louis Elks Lodge — that would revise the ordinance language used to calculate site coverage and to list various membership organizations as eligible for a higher coverage allowance when approved as conditional uses. "The zoning code defaults non–single-family residential uses allowed by conditional use to the residential standard, which is 25%," Jagie said, noting prior precedents where schools and religious institutions were allowed up to 50% in similar circumstances.

The draft ordinance identified a wide set of "various membership organizations," including golf courses, fitness and recreational sports centers, swim clubs, racket/sport courts, recreational day camps, youth sports teams and certain civic and social groups. Staff told the commission the amendment would not change buffering or screening requirements — set separately by site size — and that the conditional-use permit (CUP) review would still evaluate off-street parking, circulation and neighborhood impacts.

The applicant’s representative, George Stock of Stock & Associates, said the Saint Louis Elks Lodge currently exceeds the 25% coverage threshold and needs additional coverage to add a building and parking without removing existing parking. "We are asking that membership organizations be allowed to have the 50% site coverage versus the 25% in the A district," Stock said, adding the proposal also seeks clearer definitions so features such as tennis courts and pool decking are treated consistently in coverage calculations.

Two supporters from the lodge and neighborhood testified in favor. Mike Schnettler, a lodge trustee and a resident of 33 years, described the lodge’s community activities — food drives, youth events and veteran support — and said the amendment would help the organization improve facilities. Todd Stryler, speaking as a resident and lodge officer, said the changes would allow upgrades that better match neighboring civic buildings and help sustain programming.

A commissioner asked whether pedestrian walkways count as coverage; Jagie replied walkways are treated as pedestrian circulation and are excluded under the proposed definition. He also said parking on tennis courts is prohibited, although some reinforced lawn parking in front of courts has been permitted with conditions at specific sites. Jagie emphasized that minimum green-space requirements and existing buffers (25–50 feet depending on site) would remain in place.

On a motion from the floor, the commission voted to recommend approval of the draft text amendment as prepared for the July 1, 2024 meeting and to forward the item to the city council for its review. The motion passed on a roll call with commissioners voting in the affirmative. The planning staff said the CUP review process will examine any future site-specific proposal for impacts if the council adopts the amendment.

At the start of the meeting commissioners also voted to continue a preliminary plat application (24-002) for a 3.6-acre lot at 350 South Mason Road to the July meeting, at the applicant’s request. The commission discussed other business including an ongoing municipal boundary adjustment under negotiation at the council level and scheduling a work session to prepare for a joint session with the city council.

The commission’s recommendation on the site-coverage amendment will next appear on the city council’s agenda for further review and public comment.