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ARB declines FAR increase for 326 East Glendale and tables further design review
Summary
Developers asked the Webster Groves Architectural Review Board for a floor‑area‑ratio increase to build a larger five‑bedroom house on a narrow lot; board members questioned whether program needs justified relief and voted against the request, then tabled the house review pending redesign.
The Webster Groves Architectural Review Board on April 2 rejected a requested FAR increase for a proposed house at 326 East Glendale Road and tabled the design review until the applicant submits a revised plan or additional justification.
Developers said the narrow 50‑foot lot, combined with site constraints toward the rear (a creek/stream setback referenced by the team), made it difficult to fit a first‑floor master and the program the owner sought. "We were fighting to get a floor plan and a program that included a first‑floor master," the project team said, adding that shifting program elements down to an unfinished basement was a less desirable option.
Several board members pushed back. One member said the buyer purchased the lot with its constraints and argued the solution was to design within the established FAR. Another board member suggested relocating some program area to the basement (which does not count toward FAR) or reducing bedroom/bath counts, noting the applicant’s request amounted to roughly 364 square feet beyond the allowable area. The board voted on the FAR relief but did not approve it; members then tabled the house review so the applicant could return with a revised plan that meets the FAR or shows additional justification.
The board left open the option to vote on a redesigned plan at a future meeting. For now, the FAR request is recorded as denied and the design review is paused.
