Planning panel recommends Tropical Smoothie Cafe conditional-use permit for North New Ballas location

The Creve Coeur Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 21 recommended that the City Council consider a conditional use permit allowing a Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 727 North New Ballas Road.

Applicant Malik Patel told the commission the location was already operating under a temporary certificate of occupancy while awaiting the conditional use permit and described the business as a fast-casual cafe offering smoothies, wraps, salads and carryout. "This location, we will not have paid drive thru," Patel said, adding the venture is a family operation and that the chain typically relies on carryout with some dine-in.

City planner Bethany Moore told commissioners the site is within the CB core business district and noted the applicant already obtained tenant-finish permits. Moore said on-site parking totals 165 spaces, with 21 surplus spaces and that the proposed cafe requires six spaces because it will have a maximum of 14 seats. Staff recommended conditions including hours of operation, maximum seating, and standard site maintenance and landscaping requirements.

Director of community development Jason Jaggi confirmed staff issued a temporary occupancy while the CUP application was processed and said staff considered the use low-impact relative to other commercial uses at the site.

A commissioner moved to recommend approval "subject to the conditions discussed in the staff report and draft ordinance," the motion was seconded and the commission recorded ayes; the item will appear before City Council for first reading at the next council meeting.

If approved by council, the permit will allow the cafe to continue operating under the agreed-upon conditions and subject to any final sign or exterior permit reviews handled by staff.