Planning commission approves addendum for pool and extra flat work at 15 Stacy Drive

The Olivette City Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously 5-0 on Sept. 18 to authorize an addendum to the site plan at 15 Stacy Drive that allows a new residential swimming pool and associated flat work, subject to staff conditions and consultant review.

Jack Carswell, the city’s planning and zoning administrator, told the commission the pool addendum was submitted Sept. 2 and that staff found two primary issues that required commission action: inconsistencies in the submitted plans and the proposed flat work exceeded the administrative allowance. "Administratively, this site was allowed to have 1,073.7 square feet of flat work," Carsswell said, "but the proposed pool flat work roughly is 1,565 square feet — roughly about 492 square feet over." Staff also said two trees identified for preservation in the tree-protection plan had been removed and asked for an updated tree-replacement plan as a condition of approval.

Builder Charlie Brennan of McKelvey Homes and pool contractor Greg Dickinson (Bi State Pool & Spa) described grading and a separate pool drainage system intended to limit additional runoff. Dickinson said the pool deck drains into a separate detention system and that, if necessary, the pop-up emitter can be extended beyond the front of both homes so excess water "wouldn't even have to run through the swale." Brennan said McKelvey will meet with neighbors and update plans as a condition of approval.

Owner Steve Madera, who purchased the lot and is financing replacement trees, said preliminary grading and added swales had reduced backyard pooling since demolition and asked the commission to allow the project to proceed. "I'm very particular ... I want to make sure it's done right," Madera said, and offered to fund additional tree replacement and meet with adjacent neighbors.

Commissioner Sam Wallach moved to authorize the approval of the addendum "as presented in the memorandum from the Department of Planning Community Development dated 09/18/2025, subject to any staff conditions noted therein." Tim Spiegelglass seconded. The clerk called the vote and each commissioner recorded approval; staff said the next step is finalizing any required plan modifications before a building permit is released.

The approval includes explicit conditions: staff must receive consistent, revised plans matching final improvement square-footages, the petitioner must coordinate an on-site meeting with adjacent neighbors, and the city stormwater consultant must review the updated stormwater measures. The commission’s action permits the petitioner to proceed with permitting while the parties arrange the required follow-up and finalize any changes.

The commission moved on to work-session items after the vote.