City Council - Regular Meeting

I call this meeting to order. When everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please. Mayor Gibbons, here. Council member Jedetic, here. Council member Litzo, here. Council member Mlan, here. Council member Reiner. Council member Schaefer, here. Council member Zimmer, here.

Since there are no uh presentations or introductions tonight, we move straight into public hearings. At this time, the council will recess to conduct a public hearing regarding a request for a zoning code text amendment related to adopting a multifamily residential district R7. Miss Graves, do you have wish to enter any exhibits into the record?

Yes, Mayor, I do. I'd like to enter into the record exhibit one, which is an affidavit of publication showing that an ad was placed in the St. Louis County on December 12th, 2025. Exhibit two, which is an affidavit of publication showing that the ad was placed in the Kirkwood Webster Times on December 12th, 2025. Exhibit three, which is a list of property owners whom notice of the public hearing was sent to. Exhibit four is a viewer map showing the list of property owners to whom notice of the public hearing was sent. Exhibit five is the report of the planning and zoning commission subcommittee meeting dated December 3rd, 2025. Exhibit six is the report of the planning and zoning commission meeting dated December 4th, 2025. And exhibit 7 is the Kirkwood code of ordinances.

Thank you, Mr. Wedler. Who will present the issue to city council?

There will be planning and development services director Jonathan Ra. Good evening, mayor, council. So, uh, the first item for public hearing tonight is, as stated, the city initiated zoning code text amendment. Uh, this text amendment is the result of the city's city's ongoing effort to redevelop the current public works center site, um, which will be discussed in more detail at the second item, public hearing. But the idea of introducing a sightsp specific plan zoning district uh into the city zoning code has been discussed by the city for many years. Uh and it's a tool that many communities across the region currently utilize to allow for sight specific review of various development regulations such as height and setback structure setbacks for example. So again this is a request to introduce a new district into our zoning code. Um and just a quick summary of that of what's being proposed is the creation of a planned multifamily district which is being proposed uh as uh an R seven district which would require a concept plan that illustrates the general development standards. The district would allow greater flexibility for in this case multif family developments to encourage more innovative design through setting development standards specific to the site and that's the reason for the concept plan requirement as well. So instead of thinking about these requirements, um since they're not the general requirements laid out in other districts, um that concept plan helps depict put these put the requirements into uh a visualized form um for everyone to understand what those uh requirements on that specific site would look like. Um it's also the proposed district um is drafted in a way that it would have a minimum development size of

5 acres to provide appropriate scale that warrants flexibility. Um and currently it's drafted in a way that the maximum building height would be considered for each individual district but could not exceed five stories or 70 ft. Um, in addition to creating the district, uh, there's various, uh, references throughout our zoning code, um, to all the districts. So, we went, staff went through each dis each, um, section of the code and inserted references where necessary to this new district if it is adopted. Um, so even with the if if this district is entered and go adopted into the code, city council will still have the ability to approve or deny any request for this new district. Um, properties would have to reszone to this district, which we'll talk about in the second item. Um, but again, the city council, like all resoning requests, would have the ability to review that specific request at that site, look at and discuss the the proposal um and determine whether or not that's appropriate for for the city. The city can even use this process to require increased setbacks, for example, or buffers um for sensitive uses if it's warranted at that at that specific location. So this request uh was reviewed um by our planning and zoning commission um and just a few summaries of those notes. So it was introduced to the commission in November. Um they assigned a subcommittee um that met later in November uh and then it they presented their recommendation to the planning to the whole planning and zoning commission in early December and it was ultimately recommended uh for approval to the city council. But a summary of their discussion uh was that uh they talked about the fact that the district the proposed format of the district would allow flexibility as I mentioned for the various development requirements uh and would be sight specific tied to the

concept plan as I mentioned. Um the commission uh required uh so it was originally not in the draft but they had they added that the proposed open space percentage is added to the list of required information that an applicant must provide um which is listed in section 2534 subsection 3. Uh they talked about the 5acre minimum uh and that was proposed in recognition that larger properties often have greater opportunity proposed alternative design approaches. Um and staff also referenced the the current separate proposal um that we'll talk about later um in that it meets that 5 acre minimum. U by stating that the minimum development size city can monitor the impacts um as as these requests were to come in u without making them available to all properties to start across the city. Um they also talked about the fact that the resoning requests as I mentioned would still be subject to consideration of our future land use map or comprehensive plan u which provides guidance on where multifamily development which this would still be right it's still a multif family development so it would be still subject to that uh that review and comparison to our long range plans. Additionally, um they talked about the fact that they were comfortable with the over overall maximum um height uh no more than five stories or 70 ft, but again to be reviewed with each development or each proposal. The commission requested um that places of worship be included as a permitted use in this um just to be consistent with all other residential districts and multifamily districts. Again, that would have to be specified in any specific development whether that was going to be included or not. Um there was some discussion. So as I've mentioned multiple times, this is a multif family district that's being proposed. There was discussion um by the commission about the fact um the idea that it could be included to expand

expanded to include commercial uses. Um and there were commissioners who felt that it would be um a good idea to have more openness in the district. Um you know, there weren't people that were necessarily opposed to that. However, um staff explained that the analysis and the the question at hand um the analysis would be much different if you wanted to look at a commercial plan district or a mixeduse plan district. Um and that ultimately the commission determined that that um this proposal should remain multifamily. Um but it could be something to monitor or discuss in the future if the city feels that the tool is a positive thing. So, um they also talked about the landscaping buffering standards and that they should be explicitly listed in the uh in the ordinance for any development that goes through this this process. As I mentioned, they did recommend um approval with a few changes that that um are in the current draft. Um so, as a reminder, this is um zoning code text amendment request. Um so there are four criteria in section 25-17 subsection EU 2 in our code um which lists the criteria by which the commission should consider and the city council should consider text amendments. Um among those are the item uh I which is the proposed amendment is consistent with the comprehensive plan other adopted city plans and the stated purpose of this code. Um so as I mentioned at the beginning it's been something that's been discussed um for many years with the city. Um it is a tool u that's used by many communities in the region um to help the city get the type of development that they want. So um we're here for the public hearing as you all know right now. Um after this it will be um prepared for your consideration if you all see that as fit. So um I'm available. This is a city initiated uh request. So I'm available for for

questions. Anyone have questions? Council member Lza. Thank you. Um, so I don't I can't recall if there were questions within planning and zoning about the proposed height up to a possible maximum 70 ft or five stories because right now for B2 which is the zoning there and B2 mixed

the uh maximum height is 60 ft. Um, if I can reference what Double Eagle has proposed, at least unless they've changed something, they were talking about 55 ft four stories unless they've decided um in in over the months that something has changed and Okay. No,

I just want to clarify because I you know, we've got the the modification process and and the verbiage on this um new zoning district talks about um exceptional artistic design. I can't remember the exact wording. Um amenities and adequate transition to adjacent neighborhoods. It Normally to improve the quality we would maybe use the modification process as a kind of give and take but but it's it's it will be well um understood that this district a starting point is that it's it should be um exceptional design quality um amenities you know may be considered and must consider transition to the neighborhood. goods. I mean, I'm I'm it seems like height in Kirkwood is always like sort of the perennial

big discussion and I just want to make sure that you know we're not giving away the farm to my knowledge. The um double eagle has not required is not thinking about maximizing that height.

Yeah. So, there's a few things and I mean it always depends on how you measure height, right? But by our definition, we define that. But I think the thing to keep in mind is um that provision of of five stories 70 ft um was a was a absolute cap, right? And every district if if there are if there is a context by which 40 ft is the most height that the council thinks then you don't have to approve up to 70 ft. Right? It is a sightby-sight consideration. Um, I think that was put in there really just so it wasn't open-ended, right? We didn't want it like the other things. We didn't because height is so sensitive. The commission wanted and staff as well recommended having some cap and um it had been discussed before in that way. So, um you know the number um everybody can have different opinions on what that right number is. Um I again I I think there was some discussion that commission did feel that number was appropriate. Um I think there are um if you're looking at with the language that I'm that I think you're referencing is imaginative and innovative design, right? I think the idea was we didn't want to again because

the flexibility process that you're referencing is in our site plan which covers all properties, right? This allowance is just for property that the council decides should be zoned this district. So it is again a very limited process that has this additional ability but again still oversight by the council. Um so I think the idea was not to um quibble is probably too strong of a word but not not um get focused on arguing five and 10 feet here but give some flexibility additional for for consideration. Yeah. Well, I mean it is 25 ft over the current requirement maximum, right? For mixed for a multif family, which is 45 ft max

uh for a single use multif family, 40 ft or 40. So even yeah I mean it's it's a substantial change but I just want to kind of make it more or less clear that that this proposed code change but the project that we're talking about does not envision an advantage that information will come out in the next public hearing in minutes. Okay. Um yeah so

but but the I mean the important thing is to know if this is put in as it's drafted right this is in the code for others to I mean that's the way it has to be done right you can't just zone one property one thing and say nobody else can do it right so um it has to be available um c subject to certain restrictions and that's what you know is this are these parameters the appropriate parameters to to have to allow for developers to offer for ideas in the city to consider those. Right. I mean, for a frame of reference, we've got the fly space on KAC, which is what 72 feet or something. I've heard 76, I think, maybe something like that.

70 something or other. Or we've got station plaza that likely way overshot the there are buildings that exceed 60 ft currently in the city. Yeah. But just as for a frame of reference, those that's sort of Yeah.

where you know, um so by just having it multifamily as you alluded to that planning and zoning commission did apparently discuss. Well, what about retail? It is the downtown area. I mean, this is a code that is sort of being customized for this property and hopefully will apply to other 5 acre or more sites in the future, but um I'm just wondering um I always sort of envisioned the possibility of some retail there. We've got the the you know the theater, we've got the Arya coming in the near future. um it is our downtown area. It's going to open up this neighborhood to all kinds of new activity. So by saying multifamily alone, is retail necessarily precluded? So again, you're actually talking about the next public hearing that would be reszoning that property. Um but yes, if a property if this new district is adopted and and a and a property is reszoned to this, they would it would not allow commercial use.

Okay. So, so when if a if any site, if this is adopted and any property owner comes to the city that has five acres and wants to zone to this, the city should evaluate, is this an area that we that we need commercial according to our long a long long range plans, right? So, you know, we have clearly marked a lot of property on Kirkwood Road as mandatory commercial in many of our plans, right? So, that would be a different consideration. um you know I'm not where that should be considered that potentially a pure multif family district is not but we have other multif family districts now that property owners can request R5 rightm where it's the same calculation that that should happen when a when a reszoning request comes

um as far as accessory buildings I thought I read something about a maximum of 7% or 1,500 square ft whichever is the lesser. Yeah. So the total site that doesn't seem like a whole No. So what the the text amendment that's being offered as part of this clarifies that those limits only apply to single family residential. Okay, that makes a lot more sense. All right. So that's the way it was prior to 2021. We realized when the quot code was reorganized, we didn't specify that because it was pulled out and organized differently. So, this is to clean that up.

So, that doesn't I mean the I don't remember if there are maybe going to be some one-story whatever, but not single family residences. This is that's just sort of cleaning up our code. Correct. That happens to be in here. Okay. Um then the whole thing of green space, open space. I mean, if there's anything that we learned after the pandemic, it's the importance of people getting outside,

congregating, socializing, and I just I don't know. I could you please talk about I mean, I know it's only just under six acres over there. So, lots of plans for how how many units um and parking and all of that, but I'm just wondering possibility of actually some planned open green space for pocket park for

Yeah. the the text amendment. Um what was what was suggested by the commission is to require that any developer um requesting this district provide the city with that explicit information as required information so that the city could consider discuss and you know decide if that's adequate or not. um we we currently do not they the commission did not feel that we needed to add a base percentage of open space um something or other

right that that they just wanted it to be in there as information and noted as important information that should be considered and I will we'll I don't want to jump ahead to the that information you know that was provided and we'll get into that with the site plan in the next public hearing and it was people were surprised at how much open space is included um your eyes automatically go to the parking and the building, but you don't realize how much a 10-ft buffer around a large site adds up and other spaces in between. So,

I mean, yeah, it'll be beautiful sidewalks and walking areas, you know, pedestrianized, but um I still envision more of like public square where there are seat walls and etc. where um I guess uh that's the main things that I wanted to sort of get clarified with regard to the code change as well as how it sort of applies to the coming public hearing. Thank you, Jonathan. Thank you.

Or questions. Okay. Um now we'll move to comments from the public. So, has anyone completed a card to speak regarding this proposal? We in council for this public hearing. We do not have any comments.

Thank you. Any further comments from council? All right. Hearing no further discussion. This public hearing is now closed. The bill will be on the January 22nd, 2026 agenda for first reading consideration. Now we will move into our second public hearing. A request for zoning map amendment B2 and B2 to 7 to R seven for double eagle development at 345 South Filillmore Avenue 36 and 334 South sorry 340 South Taylor Avenue. Miss Graves, do you wish to enter any exhibits into the record?

Yes, Mayor I do. Exhibit one, which is an affidavit of publication showing that an ad was placed in the St. Louis County on December 12th, 2025. Exhibit two, which is an affidavit of publication showing that an ad was placed in the Webster Kirkwood Times on December 12th, 2025. Exhibit three, which is a list of property owners whom notice of the public hearing was sent to. Exhibit four is a viewer map showing the list of property owners to whom notice of the public hearing was sent. Exhibit five is a report of the planning and zoning subcommission subcommittee meeting dated December 3rd, 2025. Exhibit six is the report of the planning and zoning commission meeting dated December 4th, 2025. And exhibit 7 is the Kirkwood Code of Ordinances. Thank you, mayor.

Thank you, Mr. Wedler. Who will present the issue to city council?

That would be planning and development services director Jonathan R. Thank you again, Mayor Councel. Okay. So, um this is a request to reszone uh from B2 downtown commercial to um a newly or or proposed um R seven district that we just discussed. The site is the approximately 6 acre site south of our Kirkwood Performing Arts Center uh in between uh bounded on the west side by Taylor Avenue, on the east side by Filillmore, and on the south um partially by Ber Lane. The site is currently zoned B2 and it's surrounded by properties that are also zoned B2 to the north and west. properties that are zoned um I1 uh a mixture of I1 so light industrial um R5 multifamily and R4 single family um to the south and west and light industrial across um Filillmore to the east. This is just an aerial view um of the site. Uh it obviously is the current public works site owned by the city. I have a few various uh site this is these are site photos of the subject site itself of the public works center. Um looking from uh Filillmore looking from Ber um a couple shots looking from the Filillmore side. Looking around at the context, these photos are um at the intersection of Monroe and Taylor. You see the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in the upper left. Um the post office upper right upper left you have the town houses across from the post office as part of Station Plaza. And then the under

construction on the bottom right, the uh Arya mixeduse building along South Filillmore. There's a a mixture up to the north end u light industrial uses. And then as you go further south, transitioning to single family homes um just north of our Filillmore Park on Voyer Lane, there are uh two properties that access um the top is a single family home at the end of Ber Lane and um a multif family development that fronts Phil Moore as well on South Taylor. Um it's a mixture of single family and the top picture is a multifamily um property that is to the southwest of our subject site. Additionally on Taylor uh you have um historic historic church um to the upper left in the upper left picture um Kirkwood House on the upper right multifamily um housing uh condos on the bottom left and Greenree Church on the bottom right. So, uh, as mentioned in the previous presentation, um, with all resoning requests, we look at our future land use map and our comprehensive plan. Um, this site is designated as downtown on our future land use map, um, which lists uh, has additional information and detail in the plan, but um, it lists um, acceptable development types to include attached residential, meaning duplexes, town homes, and apartments. So again, while it there it just means in downtown, we did envision in our long-range plan that there would be areas um that would be suitable for multifamily, right? This site specifically was also identified in our downtown master plan

um as a short to medium-term um redevelopment opportunity. This is just a a brief uh legal description of the property. Um roughly 5.9 acres. These are hard very hard to see on the screen. I apologize. But this is an existing conditions. The aerial that I showed earlier is showing that uh just on the technical drawing. So the existing conditions of the public works center on the property. Uh, and you see the performing arts center to the north as well as the parking lot for the performing arts center. So again, if you didn't catch it on the aerial and the subject site, the the parking lot for Kirkwood Performing Arts Center is not included in this this request. Um, nor is the performing arts center for that for that matter. So, um, as I talked about with the public hearing with the new district formation, the R seven plan district does require a concept plan. Um, this concept plan, so this request, resoning request was made by, uh, developer Double Eagle, um, who as representatives is here, uh, here tonight as well. Um, the concept plan that they submitted is shown here on the screen. um proposes six multifamily six fourstory multifamily buildings um located uh throughout the site um with a internal access drive running east to west from Taylor to Fillmore um dividing the site into two. Uh it has a combination of structured parking under the structures uh as well as surface parking throughout uh the concept plan. Again, this is not um if approved. We will still have a detailed site plan process, architectural review, all that comes later. The purpose of the site of this, excuse me, of this concept plan again is

to show um how the development how the structure setbacks that are proposed um how the landscape areas proposed, how those um proposed development regulations would look in concept. So, there is a lot of detail here as well. Um but for purposes of the zoning um if it is approved this concept plan would be attached to that zoning um such that the development um would have to be would have to substantially conform to this concept. Um so again multif family buildings um they're oriented to front um Filillmore and Taylor um which was taken from our downtown master plan of creating pedestrianoriented development. They has also oriented the buildings to push them and oriented them toward the internal sidewalks that flank that east west drive, the internal private drive. Um creating a a throughway for both pedestrians and vehicles and again creating it to be pedestrian oriented with the buildings um close to the sidewalks. Um again they've shown that they've allowed for um areas for uh storm water. They'll have to go through MSD review through the site plan process if the zoning is approved as well, but they're accommodating that. While we're here, I will point out and I'll bring it up later. Um there is this nine space um portion of the development um that uh is a parking lot that was a point of discussion with the planning and zoning commission. Um ultimately you'll you'll see that the commission um discussed brought up the idea with the developer um asked it is there is some terrain there and with this that with those nine spaces the developer meets um our standard 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling unit. Um the commission asked if they would entertain um asked first what would the ratio be without those nine spaces and if it were converted to green

space to open space. Um the developer did provide that information. Um it was about 1.4 so a slight decline. The planning zoning commission's recommendation was to remove that parking in in favor of creating more green space there um with the knowledge that it would be just slightly under the the normal parking requirement. Um the developer was again obviously could accommodate and meet the 1.5 but was um agreeable to doing that as well to creating that as green space rather than um those nine parking spaces. Again, as far as a concept goes, uh we we require that they show just a cross-section of of building heights. Um so this does comply as mentioned there four stories. It is it is nowhere near the 70 ft maximum height. um they they showed that they would comply with those height regulations. Um so as it went through the commission they the commission discussed the general compatibility of the proposed multi family use and the proposed R seven uh multif family district with the surrounding property and with our future land use map as part of the comprehensive plan. Um the applicant replied to a request for the amount of open space not including parking areas for the proposed development. Um they also excluded the swimming pool area private swimming pool area for the development in this calculation. Developer responded that it their their proposal um provides just over 25% open space as proposed. The applicant explained that the location of the proposed bio retention areas um and they're function were functionally dependent on the proximity to the creek and the culvert that goes through the site. So again showing some for uh foresight and and planning um as it goes forward. I I talked about this point already about the the nine space parking area.

though um you'll see in the proposal it was it's recommended by the planning zoning commission to reduce the parking requirement from 1.5 spaces per unit to 1.4 for again very sight specific and specifically only if that or so that area can be converted to extra um open space green space. So other items of note the commission discussed the desire to ensure um the general public will have access to the internal drive. staff informed uh the commission that this would be all accomplished through easements require uh that would be talked about more in detail with the the final site plan process. Uh similarly proposed sidewalks along Filillmore. They're currently indicated on the private property um in an attempt to preserve existing trees on Filillmore. Uh and if that's the case and they can preserve the trees and they are located there, easements would be required. Um it was it was discussed that the standard perimeter landscaping requirements and frontage tree requirements would be sufficient around the majority of the site. However, that nine space parking lot area provided um felt if if that's not converted. So here's here's the kind of caveat with the planning zoning commission. If the council still wants to have that parking lot there, the nine spaces, they would recommend a type D buffer around that parking lot. Um, so it includes a sight proof fence in addition to landscaping. Um, so they did want to make a recommendation for either direction there. Uh, and lastly, uh, they reacted favorably to the request due to its consistency with the downtown master plan, uh, and the city's future land use map in the in the comprehensive plan. So um so we have also our all of our department staff departments review this and just some items of note we've provided information to the developer about turning radius requirements um to be considered during the site plan. So with our fire marshall and all that. So

that's all being considered and under review. Um an access easement is required. Um we would require staff would recommend uh or request that we require an access easement. Um can picture in the northwest corner the site abuts the storm water management for our performing arts center. Um and in speaking with our parks department they need to ensure that they have access to maintain that still. Um so again we the developers aware of all these all these items but just wanted to make you all aware of that as well. So this is a um a reasonzoning request zoning map amendment request. So 2517 subsection E1 has nine criteria. Um you you are all familiar with them but a couple of them are that the proposed amendments consistent with the comprehensive plan and other adopted city plans and stated purpose of the code. Um also the uses would be permitted on the property if it were reclassified would be compatible with the uses permitted um on other property in the immediate vicinity. Uh and lastly, one to point out is that the proposed amendment is not likely to result in significant adverse impacts upon other property in the vicinity of the subject track. So just like the one before, we're here for the public hearing. Um except unlike the one before, there is an applicant for this one. So um I'm available for question and the applicant has a representative here as well. the applicant want wish to say anything to council

just for questions I guess. Okay, just great. All righty. Um does council have questions? I do. Council member just said um can you tell me what's the number of parking spaces they have to have? So for the 1.5 rate, yeah, it's 300 and give me one second. It's 203 units. I should be able to do this. I'm gonna I would expect my kids to be able to do this in their head. And I'm 30 305 303 202 units. 303 parking spaces. That's at the 1.5 rate. So there's there's 302 units. 20

202 and then so 305 and three 303. Goodness gracious. three parking space and you're going to reduce it by nine, right? Potentially. That's the recommendation. Correct. So, they're going to So, then tell me what that number is. 294. 294. Okay. So, just bear with me here. Because a little bit of concern is So, that's 1.46. Mhm. So, I mean, I don't know how specific, you know, if we do 1.4.

Oh, I see. That could go to um a lot less than just nine. Sure. So, how do we make sure that we keep on target if we acquies to drop a nine? I mean, we could be specific enough to just say it requires um see the RIP just saying the number of spaces, then if the unit count decreases, then you're off, right? So, um I mean I I would be comfortable with 1.46 if that's the if that's what the requirement just, you know, again, not that they wouldn't, you know, kind of be consistent, but if we drop it all the way to 1.4, 1.4 times the Yeah. 202 gives us a different total, right?

And I don't want that all of a sudden to come back in. Understood. Yeah. However, it's right next to the Kpack. I was say, are we voting on that tonight, too? On this nine parking spot thing. There's no vote. No vote tonight. You're exactly where I was going was the KPAC parking and we're going to be short of parking down there. And so, while I appreciate the commission's thinking and thought process on that, I'm thinking nine spots is golden. Those nine spots are on the other side of the right. those nice spots for they sure

I have a question about the buildings um I don't know where I got this impression as we were working through this before but I thought the buildings were all going to be different heights so it didn't kind of look so mono tone so the zoning um that's not that's not determined in the zoning um so I understand that but

yeah well what I so what what you're referring to discussions um in the RFP consideration um that would come up later. So the building design themselves would would be discussed during the if if the zoning is approved then the site plan um would handle what the building and really honestly the architectural review board right hand I I understand that but I mean I would be reticent my understanding was they were going to be different heights and I'm looking

and I'm not saying that they're not I'm not saying they're not going to be what I'm telling you is that's not determined And the design of the buildings is not determined at the zoning stage. So if Yeah. Okay. Well, we ask you. Yeah. He looks like like he's poised to come anxious to talk.

Good evening. Mayor couple members. Um regarding the image that was shown with the section of the heights, if we could pull that up. Um, oh I'm sorry this is just a massing. So the design of these buildings is in process but this is just to show um from different angles different sections the maximum that the height will be and the like the filling of the void of that space will be. So that is not the design of the buildings just to clarify that. Okay. Because and the other thing was what we saw from your presentation was in the same building some different sites.

Yeah that that intention is still there. Um it's not fully designed and ready for presentation and not under review tonight. But um this is more of a technical drawing to just show that um you know the as far as like total height of building is usually measured by an average of the topography. We wanted to get the technicality of that there to make sure we show you what the intention is for the the scale of the buildings and the height of the buildings in the context. Great. Thank you. Uh what might as well stay up there. Does anybody have any question further questions of of the applicant? Okay, go ahead.

Con I I know that you said that MSD will review this. U I know that there is a significant creek that comes through there for downtown and I noticed that there's u some storm water mitigation on site. I just want to make sure and going on the record that MSD has to absolutely sign on off on anything that's going to go on on this site. Absolutely. Okay, that's it for me. Simple. Any other questions? Okay, seeing no other more questions, we will now move to comments from the public. So, has anyone completed a card to speak regarding this proposal?

Yes, mayor and council. We have one request for public comment from Joe Roser. Good evening. Evening.

We have a business across the street from the public works at uh 301 and 302 Santi. So when I heard that MSD was going to provide the water runoff security for the uh project. Well, when KPAC was built, okay, they assured me that MSD would follow all the guidelines and Kirkwood would approve it and build it and that's what it was. So heavy rain came and we had 3 in of storm water in our basement. Never before until Kpack was built. Okay, that culvert that goes underneath Filillmore is about ready to crumble. It's been bad shape for 10 years and Kirkwood cleans it out. When I call, they don't offer. When I call, they clean that culvert out to keep that storm water going through there. Well, on a heavy rain, that culvert cannot take that water because that water comes from Adams all the way down on that creek. And they have a flood gauge there on the side of the guard rail. three foot, four foot and I've seen cars flooded out. That creek goes up and above three foot over that road. Kirkwood has to come out, pull a tractor in front of the street Filillmore to keep people from driving through and bottom out their car and it just dies there.

So, the uh issue that I have is the water runoff. And everybody says, "Oh, it's going to all be MSD approved." Well, you know what? That's not that's not correct. That's not right. That water, that covert's got to be probably three times as big as it is now to go underneath Filillmore, if that. It can't go any deeper because they can't make the creek deeper. Okay? It's got to go wider. So, the issue I have is the water runoff of, you know, and they say, "Well, we're going to eliminate nine parking spots for green space. What is that going to help the water runoff?" Zero. So that's my concern of and they didn't put my picture of our property up there because I guess it doesn't it doesn't um oh coordinate with the Kirkwood uh landscape or whatever. But it's just ridiculous that 203 homes are going to be built there and no water runoff, you know, I mean, and then they say, well, sidewalks are going to be on the uh on the property on the west side of Filillmore because now they're on the east side of Filillmore, but when Kirkwood built that, uh, they said, "Well, we only require on one side of the street, so you're going to put sidewalks on the other side of the street, it's going to be more hard surface. And I just I just think this is over size of what they wanted development there on that size of the lodge. Thank you for your time.

Have a good evening.

Thank you. Mayor and council. We have one request from Jerry Beadstein. Thank you. Um to follow up on Roger's comment, um I know that the developer and the city took great pains in all the open space that was being provided. My question though is is it really open space or is it the sidewalk that the city isn't going to want deed to them and is it all paved anyway? And storm water is an issue every place. Storm water is really a problem there. And when MS you do an MSD calculation, you do it based on how much impervious surface you have now. Public works is probably 90% paved. Okay? and these poor people that are downstream, much less the people upstream, you're just trying to fit an awful lot in one place. And it's kind of concerning to me. Nancy, I thought, had a very good question about the building height. Well, you're all showing these maldane blocks that are four stories high. Well, before if this developer finishes or if this developer leaves and then another

one comes and use this same plant, you're going to start seeing things that are much taller and you're going to have it's just there's an awful lot going on down there. So, I'd just like you to consider how you're going to deal with all the traffic and how you're going to deal with the storm water and how you're going to protect people like Roger and people that are on downstream and upstream who've been here for years paying taxes trying to do good things for Kirkwood. Thanks for your time.

Thank you. We have no further requests for comment. Thank you though. Uh does council have any more questions, concerns want to ask? Oh, okay. Seeing none, um this public hearing is now closed. The bill will be on the January 22nd, 2026 agenda for re first reading approval. Now we'll move into public comments. The public comments portion of the meeting is an opportunity for the city council to listen to comments from citizens. It is not a question and answer session and the city council will not respond to comments or answer questions during this period period. The mayor may refer any matter brought up to the city council to the interim chief administrative officer or city clerk if action is needed.

Thank you. Zo, has anyone filled out a comment card who wishes to make a public comment? Yes, mayor and council. The first comment is from Allison Tax.

Good evening. Um, my name is Allison Tax. I am a resident on uh DHY Ferry at 610 and I'm here to speak in favor of um the bill 1111 um regarding removing the limited parking restriction um that is on the south side of DHY Ferry. Um, back in September, I started the petition and received um, signatures from the majority of my neighbors on both sides and across the street. Um, and we all feel that this would be a good move for our street and making it safer and more welcoming for um, people who have single lane driveways like myself with multiple drivers in the house. Um, being able to park on the street is necessary. Um, and it also is going to hopefully slow down those speedy drivers that come down DHY Ferry that way. Um, so thank you for your time. I appreciate you.

Thank you. The next comment is from Rick Davis.

Good evening. Um, first of all, I just want to thank the council for giving me the opportunity to speak this evening. Um I am one of 11 residents, individual owners um along Madison and Clay in the buildings um the Madison, the Hutton and the Barclay who are becoming increasingly concerned about the decibel level of the music emanating from bars and restaurants in downtown Kirkwood, specifically Billy G's and Forehands. Um you all have um a list of names of these residents who are concerned in addition to specific actions that have been taken um to speak with the individual businesses um to see if they could consistently lower the volume of the music um as well as um several communications to the city of Kirkwood specifically ically your former chief administrative officer, Mr. Haw, um copying um members of the council as well as Captain Connors of the Kirkwood Police Department. Um uh to just try and get some action. Um what is loud music to residents that live on Madison? Well, with our doors and windows closed, approximately one to one and a half blocks away from these establishments, we can clearly hear the music in our in our homes. Um, sometimes the music gets so loud uh that TVs have to be turned up. We live in a building with other residences, so that's a concern that we're turning our TVs up really loud. The music doesn't stop until 10:00 at night. It goes on when the weather's good. um seven nights a week as well as Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays um at

Forehands pretty much every night at Billy G's. Um I've spoken to many of the managers at Billy G's and Forehands. I've spoken to the owner of Forehands, the general manager at Billy G's um asking them why the music needs to be that loud. um they really don't have any response. Although a couple of the managers have remarked that sometimes the music is so loud that um the servers have a hard time actually hearing the customers um in the in those um specific establishments. Um, at no time have we ever asked that music be prohibited or there's a moratorium on music, just that the music is at a more re set at a more reasonable level. And in speaking with with Captain Connors and meeting with him, um, he has mentioned that all they can do, all the police can do is deal with this on a case-byase basis. Um but unless the city takes some action by way of ordinance um really there there's really nothing. So we're asking the city to take some action create an ordinance on the decibel level which would also include um some consequences for the businesses that don't comply. Thank you.

Thank you.

The last comment is from Wallace Wood. evening. I had hoped to get a couple of things done here tonight, but I'll have to come back again. So, you'll have to suffer through me when that when it happens. Uh the first thing I wanted to talk about tonight is the issue of transparency and openness uh with the transactions of the council. We continue to have work sessions in the downstairs conference room which doesn't give access either in time or in spirit with videos available to the residents. There's no reason you've had you you see an example of how well this works. If sitting around that rectangular table provided us better government, I'd be the first one to get there. But when I look at the list of problems that we have in this city, that hasn't solved them. Move the meetings up here. be fair to let everybody see what you're doing or not doing because some people aren't doing anything. Um, the next thing is really one of my highest priorities when I look at the myriad of problems that we have in the city in infrastructure and capital capital needs. One of the things that's lost is we don't have a strategic plan to address these issues. And we've got a lot of issues and one of them that's most most important to me and and should be to the residents and to the council because 80% of our budget somewhere in close to 80% of our budget is in salaries and benefits. I haven't seen any effort yet to figure out how we're going to continue to to collect to attract and retain the best quality of employees that we can work in this city. That's police, fire, trash collection, water department, electric department. All of those issues you you're aware of. The other problems that we have can be dealt with in that same strategic plan.

Uh but we've got to get there. You know, I I see us tonight and I've seen other meetings even when I was a council member where we're quibbling over what I would consider tanamount to deck chairs on the Titanic. 26 years from now, 50 years from now, no one will remember that the 2026 council put good windows in the buildings downtown. They won't care. It won't be their priority. It's quality of life and that comes from service and facilities. Thank you. Thank you. That was Mr. Wallace board. Sorry about that, sir. There are no further questions.

Thank you. So, we'll move to the consent agenda. Is there a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda? Motion. Second. Okay. Um, we need someone to request that the minutes be removed from the consent agenda and placed at the end of the agenda for further discussion. I'll move second. Oh, we don't need a motion on that. I just need somebody to request a poll. Perfect. Okay, I'll move. Okay, thank you. Okay, so those will go to the end. Okay. Um, we will now move to unfinished business. Um,

amended substitute bill. Okay. So, we need a motion in a second to bring amended subst substitute bill 11102 to the floor for consideration. So, move. Thank you. Second. Thank you. Um, all in favor of the motion to bring amended substitute bill 11102 to the floor for consideration, please say I. Opposed? Nay. Uh, substitute bill 11099. Um, oh, sorry. Yeah. Okay. So, David can read the

Okay. Mayor and Council, this is an ordinance adopting the 2021 International Fuel Gas Code with modifications as the city of Kirkwood Fuel Gas Code regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, additions to, use, or maintenance of fuel gas systems in the city of Kirkwood, providing for the issuance of permits in the collection of fees, and repealing the current fuel full gas code. Are there any questions or comments on amended substitute bill 11102?

I'm happy. Anyone? Yeah, we have to vote on it. Doesn't scare me. Oh, okay. Roll call, please. Mayor Gibbons. Yes. Council member Jedic. Yes. Council member Litzo. Yes. Council member Mlan. Yes. Council member Reinher. Yes. Council member Schaefer. Yes. Council member Zimmer. Yes. Okay. The bill has passed. Final reading. Bill 11110.

Mayor and council. This is an ordinance appropriating $20,000 from the equitable sharing fund balance to the police department law enforcement account 3010250000000 62004 for the outfitting of new uniform police officers and replenishing essential gear. Thank you. Are there any questions or comments on bill 111? Roll call, please. Mayor Gibbons, yes. Council member Jedi, yes. Council member Litzo, yes. Council member Mlan, yes. Council member Reiner. Council member Schaefer, yes. Council member Zimmer, yes.

Very good. The bill has passed final reading. Bill 1111. Mayor and Council, this is an ordinance amending the Kirkwood Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14, Article 8, Section 14393, Schedule C, no parking zones by removing the limited parking restriction of no parking school days only, 7:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the south side of Dory Dhy Ferry Road between Applewood Drive and the east property line of 522 Dhy Road. Thank you. Are there any questions or comments on bill 1111? Roll call, please. Mayor Gibbons, yes. Council member Jedetic, yes. Council member Litzo, yes. Council member Mlan,

yes. Council member Ricker. Council member Schaefer, yes. Council member Zimmer, yes. The bill has passed final reading. Bill 11112. Mayor and council, this is an ordinance adopting a revised city of Kirkwood classification and pay plan effective January 12th, 2026. Are there any questions or comments on bill 11112? Yes, council member.

Well, I didn't ask this question probably in time for staff to actually come up with the number, but being hopeful that maybe David might know what is the um impacted this on the budget as far as personnel costs. Do you happen to know off the top of your head? I do not have the figure at hand, but it was included in our current budget. Okay, good enough. And I'll I'll ask it sooner than right before the vote next time. Are there any other questions? Roll call, please. Mayor Gibbons. Yes. Council member Jedic, yes. Council member Litzo, yes. Council member Mlan,

yes. Council member Rhiner, Council Member Schaefer, yes. Council member Zimmer, yes. The bill has passed final reading. We'll now move into new business. Bill 11113. Mayor and Council, this is an ordinance granting approval of a major site plan for a restaurant and special use permit for a drive-through facility at the property known as 103000 Manchester Road, Green Tree Center, subject to certain conditions. Thank you. Do I have a motion and a second to accept bill 1113? Sorry, 11113

for first reading approval. Great. Thank you. Are there any questions or comments on this bill? Okay. All in favor of first reading approval of bill 11113, please say I.

Oppose. Nay. The bill has passed. First reading approval. Bill 11114. Mayor and Council, this is an ordinance adopting the 2021 International Plumbing Code with modifications as the city of Kirkwood Plumbing Code regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, additions to use or maintenance of plumbing systems in the city of Kirkwood. Uh providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees and repealing the current plumbing code. Do I have a motion and second to accept bill 11114 for first reading approval?

Second. Okay. Are there any questions or comments? Comments.

Nobody. Okay. Um, all in favor of first reading approval of bill114, please say I. Opposed? Nay. Bill has passed first reading approval. Bill 11115. Mayor and Council, this is an ordinance adopting the 2021 International Residential Code for one and two family dwellings, including Appendix AA, sizing and capacity of gas piping. Appendix AB, sizing and venting systems serving appliances equipped with draft hoods. Category one appliances and appliances listed for the use with type B vents. Appendix AC exit terminals of mechanical draft and direct vent venting systems. Appendix AE manufactured housing used as dwellings. Appendix AF radon control methods. Appendix AG piping standards for various applications. Appendix AH patio covers. Appendix AJ existing buildings and structures. Appendix AK. Sounding transmission or sound transmission. Appendix AM home daycare R3 occupancy. Appendix AP sizing of water pipe sizing. Appendix AQ tiny houses is published by the international code of council with modifications as the residential code of the city of Kirkwood establishing minimum regulations governing the design, construction, alteration, enlargement, repair, demolition, removal, quality of materials, erection, location, relocation, replacement, maintenance, and use of all buildings and structures providing for the issuance of permits in the collection of fees and repealing the existing residential code. Okay, thank you very much.

Second to repeat that, mayor. Yes. Do I have a motion and a second to accept bill 1115 for first reading approval? Thank you. Are there any questions or comments? Okay. All in favor of first reading approval of bill 1115, please say I. I. Oppose. Nay. The bill has passed first reading approval. Bill 11116. Mayor and Council, this is an ordinance amending chapter 17 of the Kirkwood Code of Ordinances by adding a new article uh 17 for the purpose of banning entertainment devices offering monetary prices.

Do I have a motion and a sec second to accept bill 11116? Motion second.

Are there any questions or comments? Okay, mayor. Oh, so I um I appreciate this this effort, your effort, and especially our city attorney for coming up for with an inventive way of dealing with so-called um gray machines um that have permeated municipalities. Um so I I I I really do um I have I'm fairly convicted about about this whole thing that that such devices should not be allowed. Um they are regulated throughout the state on different levels. There's questions still about various types of machines etc. But I appreciate um the persistence in figuring out how to deal with these things. So I want to say thank you.

Thank you. Any other comments? Those following at home. Monetary prizes defined in this in this ordinance is any prize in the form of cash, check, bank transfer, negotiable instrument, store credit, gift card, or any ticket or other item that's redeemable for cash, check, bank, transfer, negotiable instrument. Store credit or gift card. So your teddy bear machines that you can put quarter in and get a teddy bear out of, those are still good, right? Yes. Thank you for our Y. Right. Teddy bears are not negotiable currency. Yeah. Thank you, Council Member Mlan, for letting folks know what that's all about. Tacos. Don't they have a lot of those? Yes. A lot of those machines. Yes.

Yes. I just want the parents to know that their kids will still be happy. Any other comments? Okay. All in favor of first reading approval of Bill 1116, please say I. I oppose. Nay. The bill has passed first reading approval. Resolution 1226. Mayor and council, this is a resolution approving the final site plan for a mixeduse project in the B2 zoning district located on the property known as 300 North Kirkwood Road subject to certain conditions. Do I have a motion and a second to accept resolution 1226 is read? Motion.

Second. Are there any questions or comments on the resolution? I just I just want to say that um I think I think we're all pretty excited about Tristar coming into our cities and being a neighbor. Um they're going to be a great citizen, a great public entity for for Kirkwood. And uh Matt Seagull is here and Matt, thank you for the work that you've done. Just the fact that you would call it Pitman Place is you don't know how much meaning that has to our citizens. So, um we really we really appreciate that.

Yeah, I'd like to add um you listened and you know, we had said previously when this first came up, this is a very prominent location in the city of Kirkwood. it needed uh a certain wow factor that the previous design just didn't have. So uh we thank you for listening to the input that was given. Any other comments? Just one quick one. Your reward for being the very last item on the agenda tonight is you get to be number one in two 2026.

One. Yes. Council member Lesa.

Thank you. So um I'm leazison to the architectural review board and uh the members met for a special meeting on December 22nd to look at uh the renderings and some revised drawings that were brought and I can say that um in my view the the body as a whole was very pleased with um the architectural renderings the fact that that context of important structures important historic structures in the downtown area are being referenced by the architectural treatment and materials of this structure. Um the the um one of the members brought additional ideas which were not added as conditions, but I do believe that they'll be considered as possible optional treatment, especially from the the corner money shot there at Kirkwood Road and and Adams possibly enhancing with um uh a different type of material mix than what was shown on the renderings. But overall, I'd like to um uh commend the petitioner because I think it really will be um uh an asset to Kirkwood and especially to that important um intersection in our in our downtown area. Thank you. Any other comments? Okay. Um let's see. Roll call, please.

Mayor Given. Yes. Council member Jedetic. Yes. Council member Litzo, yes. Council member Mlan, Council Member Ricker, Council Member Schaefer, yes. Council member Zimmer, yes. Resolution has passed. Okay, now we're going back to um agenda. Consent agenda. Do I have a motion? Yeah, for it's the December 18th minutes. We have to do a motion, second to approve them, and then we'll go into Okay. the proposed. This is Yeah. Okay. This is the December 18th minutes. Do I have a motion or a second to approve the minutes? Motion. Second.

Thank you. Um, and I'm not sure is my chime in. I don't know if you guys all saw my email. We had a couple mistakes in the minutes under new business bill 1111 and bill 11112. We accidentally left out who made the motion and second on those. So, we need to amend those to add those. So my request is uh one the first amendment to for bill 1111 under new business to add in Schaefer motion and Zimmer seconded. Okay. So we need to um a motion. We've already gotten a motion and a second. So now we need to vote. We need a motion and second on the that amendment.

Okay. Yeah. I have a motion and a second. Mr. Schaefer, you might go ahead and do that. Sure. Motion. Second. Okay. Very good. Um, are there any questions on the motion? Okay. All in favor of the motion say I. I. Oppose. Nay. Okay. Um, now I need a motion, a second to amend the minutes. Uh, for bill 1112 um under new business to um add Lauo as the who made the motion and Zimmer seconded. Okay. So, can I have a may I have a motion and a second, please? So moved. All right.

Okay. Good. Are there any questions on the motion? All in favor of the motion say I. I. Nay. The motion is amended as passed. Oh yeah. Abstain. Okay. Once both. All in favor of the Okay. So now we go to vote on the minutes. All in favor of approval of the minutes say I. I. I. Nay. All right. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. All right, city council reports. Do we have any members wishing to make any reports?

I do. Um just to let those know, the landmarks committee's meeting next week is on 751 North Taylor. Um and so it was um the agenda item is um a proposal to build a new single family home requiring demolition of the existing single family home. Um, so this was a hot topic a few months ago. It's coming back before the work session. There is a work session which is kind of a new thing for landmarks at 6:30 and the meetings at 7 and it's January 14th. So, um, just to give a heads up for those who have shown an interest in the past, just want to make sure everybody knows that it's back on the landmarks agenda.

Thank you. Uh, anyone else? I'd like to mention that the young man's out here learning Gideon's uh merit badge tonight from Boy Scouts tonight. What did you learn? Excellent. And on your way to Eagle Scout, right?

Any other council reports? Okay. Um, interim chief administrative officer report. Mayor and Council, I have nothing to report. You city attorney report? Nothing to report. Mayor, city clerk report. I have nothing to report. That's a That's a first, I think. Thank you. See, no further business, our next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 22nd. This meeting is adjourned.