1990-03-28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . Minutes - Plan Commission Page 3 March 28, 1990 Use Permit in order to allow operation of a Chinese barbecue restaurant in a portion of the first floor of the building at 8406 Olive Boulevard. Mr. Kaufman stated that although there were several Chinese restaurants in University City and especially along Olive Boulevard, this restaurant would be unique to the area. He cited Mr. Yn's experience in the restaurant business as the owner and operator of the Chong Wah restaurants in University city. The restaurant would have limited seating area so that there could be as much focus on carry-out service as possible. Mr. Kaufman and Mr. Yn felt that the parking available on the site was adequate for a primarily carry-out use. Mr. Kaufman distributed to members a picture and specification sheet on the barbecue oven that would be used at the restaurant. He stated that the cooking odors from this unit were minimal. Chairperson Kreishman call for the staff report on the application. Mr. Al Goldman, Director of Planning, reviewed the comments given to Commission members in his report of March 22, 1990. Mr. Kaufman and the applicant, Mr. Yn, stated that they had both received copies of the report. Mr. Goldman stated that the building at 8406 Olive is located in the "GC" - General Commercial District which regulates carry-out restaurants as conditional uses. Mr. Goldman continued by saying that the building owner, George Tsai, has renovated the building from an auto parts store and proposes the carry-out restaurant use as well as his office use on the first floor of the building. The lower level of the building is already converted to an office use for the Chinese Cultural Center of st. Louis. Mr. Goldman reviewed the parking situation, stating that nine (9) of the parking spaces depicted on the site plan submitted with the application are located on the adjacent property to the west. Twenty-six (26) parking spaces are available for the office uses and the carry-out restaurant, including eleven (11) public parking spaces behind the building dedicated for use by the tenants and customers in this building to alleviate the general parking shortage in the area. Mr. Goldman noted that there are some inaccuracies in the site plan, but the amount of parking should not present a problem. He does see a potential problem with an increase in the amount of activity on the premises beyond the use currently in the building and those proposed. He noted the large storage area shown on the first floor plan and stressed that any conversion of this area to restaurant or banquet use would necessitate an increase in the required parking by fifteen (15) spaces. The areas available for landscaping are not accurately shown on the site plan, but landscaped areas on the east side of the property and in front of the property extending from the east property line for the easternmost thirty (30) feet would enhance the property's appearance. The application provides no information on proposed signs, outdoor trash storage, outdoor waste cans for carry-out patrons or plans for policing