Wildwood board approves variance to preserve 19th-century log dwelling as accessory unit with conditions

The Wildwood Board of Adjustment on Dec. 19 unanimously approved a variance allowing a historic log dwelling on 4981 Fox Creek Road to remain as an accessory (mother-in-law) unit after a new single-family house is built, subject to conditions from planning staff and the Historic Preservation Commission.

Planner Robin Keefe told the board the 21.27-acre parcel in far-west Wildwood contains a cluster of historic farmstead structures — a log dwelling, an 1890 barn, a corn crib, a smokehouse and a cemetery — and that the house is older than 75 years, which required Historic Preservation Commission review. Keefe said the commission visited the site and “voted to recommend approval of this request to the board of adjustment, in order to preserve the historic dwelling on-site.” The department recommended approval with conditions to minimize the variance while protecting the structure.

Under the city’s accessory-dwelling definition, accessory units must be subordinate to the primary dwelling and share utilities and common living space; staff said the existing log dwelling does not meet several elements of that definition because it has a full kitchen, lacks a shared common area and sits more than 200 feet from the proposed new residence, so variances were needed. Keefe described the request as an unusual case where preserving an historic asset justified relief from the standard definition.

Petitioner Tim Shockley, who said he owns the property, told the board he has invested about $200,000 in restoration work and that there is no intent for permanent tenancy. “Nobody lives there,” Shockley said. “Our intent is not to have anyone specifically live there permanently. It’s just a facility that we use for, you know, when we have the grandkids out there to camp, have a family barbecue… it’s a legacy that basically we hope to have for, you know, a 100 years.”

Staff and the HPC proposed conditions intended to ensure the accessory unit remains subordinate and non-habitable except by family members defined in code: removing or disabling full cooking appliances (stove, dishwasher), using only limited appliances (microwave or hot plates historically allowed), nominating the dwelling for the Wildwood historic register (which would require additional review for future exterior alterations), and placing deed restrictions if the lot is sold so future owners are bound to protect the historic asset. Shockley and his contractor representative said they would accept those conditions.

Chair Jared Frank called for a motion to approve; a board member moved to approve with the department-recommended conditions, the motion was seconded, and the board voted by roll call: Bob Morris, Anthony Reiner, Arnie Sprunger, Michael Lee and Frank voted to approve. The board noted that under the zoning code an approved variance must result in permits or establishment of the use within six months or it will expire, and that an applicant can appeal an unfavorable decision to the St. Louis County Circuit Court within 30 days.

The board’s action preserves the structure on the property while imposing operational conditions to limit long-term habitation and to add historic-register protections intended to safeguard future exterior changes.