Webster Oaks plan commission recommends conditional use permit for Picturesque Graphics at 8563 Watson Road

The Webster Oaks Plan Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a conditional use permit (CUP) for PG STL Inc., doing business as Picturesque Graphics, to operate a custom apparel fabrication and fulfillment business at 8563 Watson Road.

City planner Evan Winkler presented the staff report, saying the parcel is in the C Commercial District and that industrial sales and service is a conditional use in that zone. "In order to be approved as a conditional use permit, the applicant must show a preponderance of competent evidence that it will not substantially increase traffic, increase fire hazard, adversely affect the neighborhood, adversely affect general welfare, or overtax public utilities," Winkler said, and recommended approval with several conditions to mitigate those risks.

Winkler highlighted site factors and recommended conditions that the commission considered: obtain a Webster Groves business license; comply with state building, fire and municipal codes; pay any outstanding fees; maintain a visual screen along the north property line; prohibit parking or staging of business-related vehicles on East of Watson Road; contract with Crystal Clean (or equivalent) for proper disposal of residual inks or solvents; make the CUP personal to the applicant; and restrict outside storage beyond company vehicles (with commissioners later narrowing that restriction to permit short-term staging).

Applicant Carl McDowell, owner of Picturesque Graphics, described his business'screen printing, heat-transfer and embroidery for large distributors'and said the company has shifted to safer chemicals and third-party supply-chain audits. "This will be the quietest business you've ever had in your community," McDowell said, explaining that most production noise is internal and that the company contracts for pickup and recycling of residual inks and solvents. He told the commission the firm uses a biodegradable cleaning solvent (identified in the presentation as EZ Solve 701) and relies on a commercial waste-pickup vendor (Crystal Clean) to remove used materials.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on outside storage, temporary staging during large production runs, vehicle routes and parking. McDowell said the site has about 105 parking spaces and that the usual staffing is about 52 employees (down from roughly 70'75 in busier years), with typical daytime hours approximately 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Commissioners and staff agreed to modify the proposed condition on outside storage to allow temporary staging for short periods; the revised condition reads, in essence, "no outside storage for periods longer than 30 days beyond company vehicles."

After discussion and a motion to approve the CUP with the amended condition, the commission took a roll-call voice vote and recorded five votes in favor and none opposed; the motion passed 5-0. The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council, which must hold its own hearing and adopt an ordinance for the permit to take final effect.

The commission also advised that county performance standards limit emissions of odors, smoke and toxic gases and that applicants must comply with state and local building and fire codes. The staff packet and the applicant's materials include documentation of waste-management arrangements and third-party audits that staff said supported the recommendation.

The commission recorded that the CUP is personal to PG STL Inc. (Picturesque Graphics) and that the conditions are intended to mitigate neighborhood impacts, particularly noise, parking and hazardous-waste handling. City Council will review the commission's recommendation at a future meeting.