Creve Coeur Board of Adjustment approves two 5‑foot front‑yard variances at Warrington Square

The Creve Coeur Board of Adjustment voted 4–0 on June 19 to grant identical 5‑foot front‑yard setback variances for 9810 and 9820 Warrington Square, allowing each lot to use the platted 40‑foot building line rather than the current 45‑foot zoning setback to permit construction of new single‑family houses.

Doug Cohen, owner of Douglas Properties, said he owns both lots and that moving the new houses to the 40‑foot platted line would ease grading and drainage work on what he described as a low spot that currently receives runoff from higher streets to the south and east. “Every foot that I’m able to get helps the engineers design a pattern to get it to the street,” Cohen said, describing dry wells and underground connections his engineers plan to use to retain roof runoff on site.

Bethany Moore, city planner, presented maps and elevations showing the Warson/Warrington Square plat was approved in 1957 with a 40‑foot building line; the city’s current B zoning district now specifies a 45‑foot front‑yard setback. Moore told the board the variance requests meet standard criteria used in prior similar cases: a discrepancy between the platted building line and a later zoning setback, a hardship not created by the applicant and a finding that granting the variance would not violate the spirit of the zoning chapter.

Several nearby residents raised concerns about stormwater and house scale. A resident who identified herself as Cynthia of 9830 Warrington said recent rains have caused yard erosion and basement flooding downstream and asked whether the city had “withdrawn support” for a stormwater project residents had expected. Jason Jagie, director of community development, said the city has a separate stormwater review in its ordinance and that applicants must demonstrate “no adverse effect” — a permit-level engineering review intended to prevent increased off‑site runoff. “That’s more of an issue of timing,” Jagie said, and he offered to connect residents with the city engineer for details.

Resident Lauren Gish said the plans posted online overlay old and new dimensions and worried a larger footprint could increase runoff. Moore and Cohen clarified the variance before the board was limited to the front‑yard setback; side and rear setbacks and the stormwater permit remain subject to separate review.

After public comment closed the board’s chair moved to approve the 9810 variance, citing the eight standard findings of fact; the motion passed on roll call with recorded approvals from Gerst, Kastelic (listed as Kostalek in the second vote), Mayerson and Wylen. The board then moved and approved the identical variance for 9820 Warrington Square by the same 4–0 vote. In both cases staff were directed to prepare findings of fact and conclusions of law to be executed by the board chair.

The city attorney placed into the public record the notice, presentation materials, the city code of ordinances, the comprehensive plan and each application’s public file.

Next steps: Cohen said he will submit the grading plan and permit documents (including engineered dry wells and any required mitigation) pending these variances; the city’s stormwater/engineering review must still demonstrate the work will not increase downstream impacts. The board closed the public hearing and later discussed meeting procedures after the vote, with staff and the court reporter asking that the chair strictly recognize speakers to ensure a clean verbatim record for quasi‑judicial hearings.