Planning commission approves rear addition at 30 The Orchards Lane

The Olivette City Planning Commission voted unanimously May 21 to approve a site plan, community design review and concept stormwater management plan for a two-story addition at 30 The Orchards Lane.

Carlos Trejo, director of the Department of Planning and Community Design, told the commission the combined new floor area for the first and second floors would exceed 600 square feet, which triggers community design review, and said calculations showed side coverage came in just under the 5 percent threshold. He also noted a variance had been granted in the 1990s for a prior extension and that the proposed addition would not extend beyond the setback previously authorized.

Commissioner Petrie Powell moved to authorize approval of the petition “as presented in the memorandum from the Department of Planning and Community Development dated 05/21/2026, subject to any staff conditions noted therein,” and Tim Spiegelglass seconded. The motion passed 4–0, with commissioners Spiegelglass, Ford, Powell and Wallach recorded as voting to approve.

During discussion Powell asked whether minutes or a finding of facts from the earlier Board of Adjustment variance were available; staff said permit and inspection paperwork was in their files though the board minutes were not included in the commission packet. The commission did not delay action, and staff said the approved project can now proceed to the building-permit application stage.

The petitioners—project representative Lauren Strutman, architect Katie Webenmire and stormwater consultant Mark Kilgore—said the addition focuses on rear living spaces, corrects prior substandard work and preserves neighborhood character. Staff recommended approval and noted conditions in the staff memorandum. The building-permit application is the next formal step.