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Planning commission approves Temple Israel parking‑lot lighting upgrade with 10 p.m. cutoff condition
Summary
The Creve Coeur Planning & Zoning Commission approved a minor site‑plan for exterior lighting upgrades at Congregation Temple Israel (10675 Ladue Road), allowing 12 new poles and 18 fixtures (18.5 ft total height) with conditions including fully shielded fixtures and a general requirement that lights be turned off by 10:00 p.m., approved by voice vote.
The Creve Coeur Planning & Zoning Commission on Aug. 18 approved application 25‑022, a minor site‑plan to replace aging parking‑lot lights at Congregation Temple Israel, 10675 Ladue Road.
The applicant, Tim Spielglass of Spielglass Construction Company, said the project is Phase 3 of 5 and would replace six existing poles with two‑head fixtures and six poles with single heads, matching photometric fixtures the congregation installed in 2024. Martina (executive director at Temple Israel) told commissioners the new fixtures are shielded and downcast to limit light spill and that the congregation normally turns lights off by about 10:00 p.m. "These are the new lights. The heads only face down. They're all shielded," Spielglass said.
City planner Bethany Moore summarized the staff review, saying the campus is just over 23 acres in a residential zoning district and that the proposal replaces six existing noncompliant poles with 12 new poles totaling 18 fixtures. Moore said the total fixture height as measured from the ground to the top of the assembly is 18.5 feet, while the zoning code for residential districts limits lighting to 16 feet unless approved by the commission. She noted fixtures installed in 2024 were the same total height and were permitted through the building division but were not routed to planning and zoning for review. "They received an approved building permit, but at that time it wasn't sent over to planning and zoning for review," Moore said.
Commissioners pressed applicants and staff on the extra height and proximity to residences. The applicant explained the measured height includes a concrete base intended for safety and pole stability; PGAV staff and the applicant said many fixtures in the center of the parking lots have taller bases for the same reason.
No members of the public spoke during the open‑comment period for the item. Commissioners discussed operational controls and whether an operating‑hours condition should be required. Staff recommended, and the commission adopted, a condition that all replacement fixtures be downcast and fully shielded in conformance with section 405680 of the zoning code and an added condition that the lights be turned off by 10:00 p.m. unless there is an activity or other reason to keep them on.
A motion to approve the minor site‑development plan subject to the staff report conditions and the 10 p.m. cutoff was moved, seconded, and approved by voice vote.
The commission’s action allows the applicant to proceed with work subject to the stated conditions and the applicant’s building‑permit process.
The Planning & Zoning Commission’s files list this item as application 25‑022; additional permitting will proceed through the building division and any remaining code compliance steps.
