Planning commission unanimously approves pool at 7 Lisa Drive

On April 2, 2026, the Olivette City Planning & Community Design Commission voted unanimously to add a pool and associated flat work to the approved community design review for 7 Lisa Drive.

Jack Carswell, the city’s planning and zoning administrator, told the commission the buyer of the house requested the pool before occupancy and that staff wanted the commission to be aware of the change. "We wanted to bring the pool before you guys to make you aware that this pool is now coming in," Carswell said. Staff reported the pool is 523 square feet with a 633‑square‑foot patio and noted those sizes typically would have been handled administratively under current thresholds.

Carswell said the lot is approximately 20,000 square feet and the city’s accessory‑structure rules allow pools up to 1,000 square feet on lots of that size. The project does not exceed accessory‑structure coverage, flat‑work percentage thresholds or lot‑coverage limits, but the pool orientation crosses the rear‑yard setback. He explained the city permits pools to extend up to 10 feet into a setback but they cannot be closer than 10 feet to the property line; the house’s rear setback is roughly 31 feet and the proposed pool would sit approximately 27–30 feet from the property line.

A motion to add the pool and flat work to the approved community design review was made and seconded; the commission called the roll and recorded five affirmative votes. Commissioners recorded as approving the motion were Ragsdale, Natt, Powell, Wallach and Duriel. The motion passed 5–0 and staff said it will notify the applicant of the approval.

Because the pool dimensions fall within the administrative thresholds for lots of the stated size, Carswell said the item was before the commission due to timing and the petitioner’s request that construction occur prior to final occupancy. The commission did not record any neighborhood objections; staff said mailed notices produced no responses.