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<br />Minutes - Plan Co~ssion <br />Page 2 <br />April 25, 1990 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />both. The May Company currently owns the sites on the north side <br />of Forsyth Boulevard on which are four (4) buildings occupied by <br />the Famous Barr Department store and other commercial lessees of <br />the May Company. Famous Barr has announced that it will be <br />vacating its current location at 7425 Forsyth by 1991 in order to <br />relocate to the Galleria site in Richmond Heights. This property <br />and surrounding ones have been the subject of several informal <br />redevelopment proposals; Washington University is interested in <br />the property as an extension of its campus and office use, and a <br />grocery store has also expressed interest in the site. <br /> <br />The sites are currently zoned "GC" - General Commercial, and <br />Commission members asked several questions pertaining to the <br />current zoning classification and the wisdom in changing the <br />zoning at this point in time to guide any potential redevelopment <br />or reuse. The uses currently located on the Famous Barr site and <br />surrounding properties are consistent with the current zoning <br />designation. Mr. Marsh asked if the City were to change the <br />zoning on these properties now, would such an action prohibit <br />their current uses? Mr. Goldman, Director of Planning, replied <br />that rezoning would not prohibit the current and ongoing uses of <br />the properties; rezoning would not even prohibit the same use of <br />the properties by a new owner unless the property had been vacant <br />for a period of twelve (12) months or longer and the use was not <br />one permitted by the new zoning. Expansion of the current uses <br />would depend on the zoning regulations existing on the property <br />at the time of proposed expansion. Mr. Safe confirmed that <br />rezoning these properties now would allow a measure of control of <br />future redevelopment or reuse that the City does not currently <br />have with the present zoning. Mr. Goldman agreed. Mr. Marsh <br />indicated that if a developer could not move forward with a <br />project under the new zoning designation and the project still <br />conformed with the 1986 Comprehensive Plan, the city could inform <br />the developer that it would not be adverse to changing the zoning <br />again. Chairperson Kreishman stated that it was important that <br />all Plan Commission decisions conform to the Comprehensive Plan. <br />Mr. Marsh asked if any legal ramifications would result from <br />changing the zoning on a parcel that was for sale, thereby <br />affecting the buyer's expectations of potential uses of the <br />property. Planning Staff replied that there might be certain <br />ramifications; however, inquiries about the property and its <br />zoning have included the fact that its current zoning was being <br />reviewed. Also, any buyer should also rely on the master plan <br />for the area. <br /> <br />Mr. Safe asked if the land under the Forest Park Parkway was part <br />of the May Company property. Commission members believed that <br />the Parkway was constructed with an easement or air rights and <br />that the May Company owned the property underneath. Members <br />discussed how much of the property was located in University <br />City; Ms. Ratner informed members that perhaps the majority of <br />acreage was located in University City, but the majority of <br />