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Board approves infill house at 4559 Oakland despite multiple variances
Summary
The Board of Adjustment approved a permit appeal for a single‑family house at 4559 Oakland Ave after considering multiple use and area variances and a letter of support from Park Central Development; the Cultural Resources Office review was noted and the applicant clarified setbacks and materials.
The St. Louis Board of Adjustment approved an appeal on May 6 to allow construction of a new single‑family residence at 4559 Oakland Ave, despite the applicant seeking multiple variances from the Forest Park Southeast form‑based code.
Andy Powers, zoning plan examiner for the City of St. Louis, told the board the proposed house requires three use variances (including primary building materials) and several area variances covering first‑floor ceiling height, facade breaks, roof eaves and horizontal dimensions for windows and doors. Powers said planning staff finds the request consistent with the city's 2025 strategic land‑use plan but cautioned that the number of variances warrants careful review.
Powers read a letter from Abdul Kaba Abdullah, executive director of Park Central Development Corporation, expressing full support and describing the proposal as consistent with neighborhood revitalization goals. The Cultural Resources Office also provided a review signed by Bob Bettis and that review was listed in exhibits read into the record.
Developer Mark Assad testified that the design aims to fit the block: he described a brick veneer on the first floor, Hardie (Hardy) board panels on the second floor and a brick wrap of approximately two feet with about five feet of Hardie banding. Assad said the height and ceiling choices were selected to match adjacent building profiles and acknowledged some code areas are stricter in parts of the neighborhood.
Board members said they were initially hesitant about tight side setbacks but noted the neighborhood letter and staff recommendations; a motion to approve passed on a recorded voice vote. The chair read exhibits into the record and the board said written findings will follow.
The applicant will be notified of the board’s written decision by mail in about two weeks; staff provided contact details for immediate follow‑up.
