1988-02-24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . Minutes - Plan Commission Page 2 February 24, 1988 proposal to construct a neighborhood retail/convenience center on the former Midwest Laundry site bordered by Vernon Avenue, Skinker Boulevard and Cabanne Avenue. A portion of the property was within the City of St. Louis; however, University City needed to consider the applications for both a Conditional Use Permit and the Site Plan Review since a portion of the center was within the boundaries of University City. Daryll Yahl, project architect, reviewed with Commission members the site plan and artist's rendering for the proposed retail center. He noted that the site plan differed in several details from that distributed to Commission members because a title search of the property revealed that the current owner did not control a northwestern section of the site along Cabanne Avenue. Mr. Yahl explained that the muffler shop would be located on the southern portion of the site. Access to the center would be from Cabanne Avenue and Vernon Avenue so that traffic would not have to enter from and exit onto congested Skinker Boulevard. He indicated that the center would be primarily masonry construction with a glass front on the retail portion and a metal canopy. A small manager's office would be located on the second floor. A driveway at the rear of the building would service the businesses as would an area for truck loading and refuse containers. The developer would provide a green area west of the service drive to act as a buffer for the neighboring park property. Chairman McCauley asked Al Goldman, Director of Planning, to present the issues cited in the Planning Department's report on the application. Mr. Goldman stated that the issue for Plan Commission consideration was the appropriateness of the motor vehicle repair facility at the proposed location. A separate Site Plan Review would be required by the City Council for development of the entire site as a retail center. As a point of information, Mr. Goldman noted that the northernmost portion of the center would be a convenience store and self-service gasoline facility. He explained that because the gas pumps were to be placed within the City of St. Louis, the automobile filling station use was not an issue here; however, he had no particular objection to the convenience store/self- service gasoline concept at this location because the site was accessible to the University City neighborhoods to its west without conflicting vehicular and pedestrian traffic along Skinker Boulevard. Mr. Goldman recommended approval of the application subject to conditions regarding a limitation on parking and storage of wrecked or dilapidated vehicles and general site maintenance considerations. Chairman McCauley asked the applicant and his associates to respond to questions from Plan Commission members. Mr. Kendall asked if there was a visible division between the playground property to the west and the proposed retail site. Mr. Yahl responded that the playground abuts the proposed retail site on the west, and he was not aware of any existing wall or fence between the two properties. Mr. Marsh asked about the type of services that would be provided by the auto repair facility. Mr. Yahl responded that the facility was a muffler shop and "quick-change" oil service; the developer did not anticipate major motor vehicle repair services to be available on the site. Mr. Marsh asked what was the applicant's time frame to start construction. Mr. Yahl responded that as soon as City Council could approve the Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan, construction documents would be submitted to the City building department for its approval.