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. . 8-24-94 Plan Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 Charles Deutsch, 1 McKnight Place, University City, MO 63124, gave an overview of the Gatesworth and Nursing Care Center. He requested 9 parking spaces perpendicular to McKnight Place in order to decrease the danger of driving down the narrow road and to increase parking in the area. He states the requested action will increase the width of the street by approximately 10'. The Chairperson called on Al Goldman, Director of Planning to provide the staff report. Mr. Goldman stated that the applicant is seeking to amend his conditional permit by deleting condition No. 10 in order to construct nine parking stalls perpendicular to the street. The stalls are entered directly from the street which necessitates backing into the street. This is not consistent with good traffic engineering practice and is not the safest arrangement for providing parking on a public street. The present configuration, while it may appear more congested is safer than Mr. Deutsch's proposal. The existing street pavement, which is approximately 30 feet wide, is wide enough to handle the traffic with curb-side parking on both sides of the street. Obviously, it would be easier to maneuver trucks on a wider pavement, but increasing the width would also encourage higher speeds. The nine "added" spaces will replace five existing curbside spaces for a net gain of only four parking spaces. The applicant feels this will still be advantageous because removing the curb-side parking will ease congestion, facilitate truck movement and will replace the five public spaces with nine private spaces. In all fairness to the applicant, making the stalls deeper than conventional parking stalls adds to the safety of the layout. Further, the applicant has worked around the existing trees and agrees to reinstall the other landscape material immediately south of the parking stalls. In Mr. Goldman's judgement the proposed change does not meet the intent of Section 34-50.3,b of the Zoning Code. In reviewing the plan he also noticed some modifications to the parking in the immediate vicinity of the nursing home entrance drive. Of particular concern are the two parking stalls shown on the east side of the driveway. These are located only five feet from the building proposed for Phase In of the development. The Conditional Use Permit specifies that parking spaces must be at least 15 feet from walls with patient room windows and least 10 feet from windowless walls. He does not find that the application meets the standards for Conditional Use Permit Approval contained in Section 34-65.4(e); in that the proposed parking is not consistent with the provisions of Section 34-50.3(b). The Chairperson opened the public hearing and asked for testimony from the public. Daniel Talonn, 8661 Barby, stated that the perpendicular parking should not be permitted because backing out into the street is dangerous. No other members of the public indicated a desire to speak, so the public hearing portion of the meeting was closed. Mr. Solodar stated that the trees along McKnight Place stand a slim chance of survival if the proposed parking spaces are installed. He suggested that if the operation is in need of extra parking that an underground garage be installed prior to constructing Phase III. m-8-24.plc