Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

Good evening and welcome to the February 23rd 2026 board of all meeting for the city town country. I now call this meeting to order but ask you to please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance 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. Thank you. I would ask the city clerk to call the role for attendance, please. Alderman Friedman here. Alderman Gerber here. Alderman Harter here. Alderman Hughes here. Alderman Canella here. Alderman Murphy here. And Alderman Schwar present.

I have Alderman Sawyer as absent. Mayor Reis presiding when we do have a quorum.

Thank you. Um before I go asking for a motion and a second to approve the minutes, just want to take one second to point out that a former mayor here in the city mayor, Peggy SS, uh did pass away on the 8th of this month at 87 years old. She had been living in town and country for over 35 years, was mayor from 93 to 95 and was award one alderman from 97 to 99. Um she was the first person apparently open up city hall to subdivision meetings which is fair enough number of them are here over at our other part. Um she had a connecting and breakfast program a junior board overman. She was a mayor during the flood of 93 and actually participated heavily in flood recovery efforts. Um she was also a longtime board member of the Shelurn Sheldon concert hall and galleries and various other St. sports. Uh she has survived by three sons and five grandchildren. And justly want to do again thank her for her service to the city back back in the mid '9s. I would then seek a motion and second to approve the minutes from the February 9th, 2026 meeting.

Second. Thank you. Any discussion or amendment? All in favor say I. I. and patching. So, thank you. I ask the city clerk, have any citizens filled out a card to speak? No, sir.

Thank you very much. Uh, the first item on the agenda tonight is a public hearing. It's a public hearing to review request by David Zang, owner for approval of a conditional use permit CU for a roof mounted solar system facing a street at 12545 Ammershan Court in the suburban east zoning district. I now declare the public hearing open. I ask the city clerk to enter exhibits.

Exhibit number one is affidavit of publication of notice of hearing published in the St. county on February 5th, 2026. Exhibit number two is tie written notice of hearing posted at the municipal center on the city's website sent via notify me posted on the subject property and mailed to property owners within 300 ft with a list of those owners attached. Exhibit number three is bill number 2606. Exhibit number four is public comment and support from Andrew Defield, 863 Ammersham Drive, dated February 18th, 2026, one page. Exhibit number five is public comment in opposition from trustee Joey Shutes, 862 Ammersham Drive, dated February 18th, 2026, one page. Exhibit number six is public comment in opposition from John Friie, 12574 Bitford Drive, dated February 20th, 2026, one page. Exhibit number seven is public comment in opposition from Frank Murphy, 824 Ammersham Drive, dated February 23rd, 2026, one page. And exhibit number eight is a collection of five photos that will do be displayed and referenced by the applicant during the public hearing. For the record, those were received after 4 p.m. today. So, we'll include them in the March 9th packet for the board and public.

Thank you very much. I would invite Mr. Zang, the owner, to the podium to provide information. Good evening. Um, I could just ask if you would give your name and your address just for the record. Yeah. David Zang, 12545 Ammersham Court, St. Louis, Missouri 61.

Um, oh, okay. So, uh, I guess the the main points I'm going to address is is really just the objections. Um, so number one, you know, it'll degrade the neighborhood. Uh, I've personally never heard of a professionally installed solar panel to devalue a house. In fact, it should raise prices. I think that should be good for everybody in the neighborhood. Um, most of the objections have said that they're not against alternative energy sources. Um, I'm just wondering, is it just because I'm in the corner lot that I'm exempt from being environmentally friendly? Um, or what else? Um, I mean, between 2020 and 23, Amaran raised prices about 6% per year. Last year, Amaran proved a 15% rate hike. Uh there'd be talks of increasing again this year with all the data centers coming up. Uh electricity is just going to be insane. Every everyone knows it. Um solar panels don't just help me, they help everyone, especially those closest to me. Um when my house pulls less electricity because I'm getting solar, there's less load on transformers. There's less current going through distribution lines, lower peak overall uh demand. And obviously this matters the most on a hot summer day when everyone's using their AC at max and Amron has search charges on other electricity. This is when solar shines the most. And so if I'm using if I'm not stressing out the grid um you know rates should just be lower overall. And in addition to that, if I overproduce solar energy and I'm not using it while my solar panels are are getting it, it'll feed right back into the grid and electricity follows uh the path of least resistance. So exported solar actually feeds my neighbors first, then those on the street, and then it goes everywhere else. So, um, it really does help them directly. Um, and electricity doesn't have to travel far. It loses less energy. It's more efficient, and it's cheaper to transmit, uh, than say some far away plant. Um, another point is it'll look ugly. Um, it's subjective, I

think. You know, they're flat black panels that are supposed to be flush against my dark colored roof. you know, when people see them, I generally don't think they're going to say, "Hey, this is this roof is totally different than every other roof just because it has solar panels." Um, I think people actually think it's cool that I might understand the importance of alternative energy. I don't know. Um, but, uh, another point is that, you know, my house does face the street, but when you actually look at it, I know some some of you have already driven by it, um, it is lined by 40 to 50 foot trees like right in front of it. Um, and I have aerial pictures that I don't I don't know if there Okay.

Yeah. And it it's kind of hard to see in this, but you can see the line of green um in this one right in front in some of the other pictures as well. Uh yeah, just lot of trees. I mean, you have to uh the the only way you'd really be able to see them, and you can see the side street kind of to the left. Um, the only way you're really going to be able to see the panels are are if you drive directly in front of it. So, you have mailmen, Amazon drivers, and then the three neighbors to the east of me. Um, but other than that, I don't it's it's also dead end. It's not like people have to drive that way to get out. So, um, again, not really visible. Um, and then the other house that can probably might see like the top of the roof, uh, is going to be 863 Ammersham. Um, I asked them, you know, is it going to bother you guys if you can see solar panels? And they they signed a document saying it wouldn't. Um, and then, uh, I know there's a comment about placement, how it's not symmetrical. I mean, the proposed layout that I got, uh, was literally just the most efficient that I got from the solar company. I could place them, uh, symmetrical all on one side. I could place them on the east side where you wouldn't even be able to see it at all from the main street. it really doesn't matter as long as it's on the south part of the roof. Um, that's really good enough for me. So, there's many ways to hide it if I really need to. Uh, why not replace with a solar roof? Uh, according to my sellers disclosure, my roof is 5 years old. My neighbors want to chip in for a 3x premium to replace it. I'm totally open to doing that route. Um, it's not like every other roof in the neighborhood. Uh, well, not that correct. Um, so a lot of town and country places have gotten solar panels and then most notably 946 uh Delvin. So I guess they asked for approval in 2014 got it. Um, I just drove by there today just to look at it. Um, their panels face the street and it's unblocked by

trees. Uh, every car down the street and again it's hard to see from here. Um, but basically every car coming down that street is going to basically just be driving towards it. um 15 houses have to pass that every single day. Um you know, and it's not just a side street that they're passing. They're again, they're they're heading straight for that solar panel roof every single day. Uh again, I only have three neighbors that have to drive in front of my house and then look up to see the solar panels. Um so, you know, I'm not calling them out obviously. You know, I'm happy for them, but I'm just questioning why why they get a yes. And you know, there's so much bias against me. I don't know if it's personal or whatever, but um you know and and along with the it's not the same as every other roof. Like there's there has to always be someone who who does something first, right? Um if all my neighbors had solar panels, I'm sure this would be a different story. And I'm sure if Amron, you know, raises its rates like 50%, it again, you know, might not be uh that long until everyone's asking for it. So regardless, you know, a lot of the opposition has been purely cosmetic and what I should be doing, you know, what someone else is telling me to do with my property, whereas I I feel like environmentally this is responsible. Again, it does help my neighbors. I'm not, you know, in some capacity, I'm sure, and it does raise the value of the house, which again helps the entire neighborhood. So, uh, yeah.

Well, well, thank you. If you stay there, I'm now going to open this up to the members of the board if any of them have questions for you.

Just a question. So, if you put it on the back side of the house, which is where it's typically approved for, does that not work on your home situation? It looks like from the aerial views it would. Uh so I think I think there because it that the back of the house would face the street directly and I think I think he would uh Mr. Zang was still made it conditional use per minute put it on the rear of the house faces the street. Yeah directly. So whether it's on the front or the back correct

on his house particularly. Okay a minute just hold on for right now. But yeah, you could absolutely see it from the street if I put it on the back because everyone coming down that would would definitely see it. But on the front again because of the trees, you don't really and the south is just more efficient.

And I have a follow question or a comment I guess. I don't think it's, you know, anything personal and my my only thought is that because we received a lot of those emails, um, I think it would just be more of a precedent. I think people are more concerned about more than your house personally because if we start allowing it front or back, which I'm not saying my opinion at this point either way, but just from the emails that I have read of some other constituents reaching out is that it would be that if yours is okay for the front or the back in that situation, then allows everybody's front and back going forward. So, I I don't I wouldn't I don't want you to take it as a personal thing. I think it's more of a you know, a precedent being set. If we allow it anywhere, then it's every home in town of country can have it anywhere at that point would be my understanding.

I don't mean to put you on the spot, but I having trouble recollecting what the vote was at DNC for this. Okay, thank you. I just got uh you were accepting the house on Delvin that needed a C, right? That house was approved in 2014. I researched it. It was approved by the architectural, but it didn't even see uh the interpretation of staff at that time was didn't need and that's in your that's in the same HOA. Yes. What's the uh address?

946 Delvin DL V I N. I'm good. Okay. Um, any other can tell? Thank you, Mayor. Mr. Zang, I will compliment on going out and reaching out to the general straight in front of you because as we talked about in the PNZ meeting the that would be the one person that could see directly onto that rooftop and even though there are trees in the way that that person did not object. So well done. All right. Now I would ask if there members of the public that wish to comment if they would come up and give their name and address. Thank you. Please just

Hi, my name is Plet Rushack. I'm David's neighbor. Okay. At 840 Ammersham Drive. This is my husband, Dr. Michael Rush. Okay. Um we walk by his house every day to walk our dog. It faces this street faces the south, the southern exposure, which is on the right according to this picture. This would be the south. That would be the north. Yeah. And really, it's it's just trees. It's just trees. It's It's not even a well-maintained yard. So, I don't know why anyone who walks there would care um about these solar panels. I don't know why our neighbor Frank would disapprove because he doesn't even go that way.

He lives Frank lives we live on the top of this picture. Frank lives that way. He doesn't even drive by. Okay. All right. He pulls in and pulls into his driveway. Okay. All right. Yeah. He got approval to enlarge a extra special big gazebo in his backyard that I get to stare at from my bedroom. That's fine. So, um, you know,

US Green Building Council sustainable design and energy. I talk about that all day long in interior design and that's where we should be headed, especially with all of the utility bills and everything going up, especially our property taxes. So, um I'm I say okay. I don't have a problem with it. We're happy to have a new owner in this house who's making it a home. He all the things he does is just making it a beautiful space and he hopes to start a family there and I want him to be happy. I appreciate you taking the time to come and speak at our meeting. Thank you very much. Thank you.

I have one thing to say. We had last week we had a squirrel that shorted out a transformer just down the road from me and took out eight houses. So the electrical grid in this area is old. Okay.

Yeah. All right. I think there's no one else who wishes to comment. I appreciate the comments and I now declare the public hearing closed. Relative to appointments, I want to announce my intent to reappoint commission members to new terms for all non-stutory commissions at the March 9th meeting according to the list distributed by the city. I know the city administrator is on vacation, has no report. So, I will now recognize the board's opportunity to provide reports. All in order.

Okay. on the PF commission. Uh just another reminder, the polar plunge, it's this Saturday, 100 p.m. Creek Coralate and we I just got the latest update and we are the number one police department now on the donations. So, but Maryland Heights is right on our tail. So, we can't let our guard down. Don't want any bulls going through the legs. Um, so we can donate actually up until 1:00 that day is when I'm um secondly, citizens police academy, they kicked off last Wednesday. We met in here kicking plans and zoning off into the small room. We apologize. Uh, and we went over the presentation of West Central Dispatch Center, which was quite fascinating and really made me glad I did not choose to be a 911 operator. Uh and we have 25% of our board of alderman attending this academy. Alderman Friedman is there as well. And then finally, after over three decades of dedicated service, Sergeant Chris Moore is retiring and his last day is this Friday, 27th. There will be a reception at 11:00 in the community room to thank him and wish him well. Naturally, everybody is invited today. That's all I've got. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I think you the second. Thank you, Mayor. The next meeting of the architectural review board will be Monday, March the 2nd at 5:30 here in the community room. The following items will be considered. A new home at 12315 Wildlife Trail and a rear edition for a home at 808 Emmer Drive. All are welcome. Thank you.

Thank you, Alderman Murphy. Thank you, chairman. Uh the Parks and Trails Commission will be meeting on Monday, March 30th at 6:30 p.m. over at Long View. The agenda will include a review of the pedestrian pathway plan and planning for the summer concert series. Um for all uh for information purposes, the repair materials for the Long View Bridge are expected this week and we will be seeing some temporary closures of that bridge throughout the week. And then also please mark your calendars. Monday, March 2nd, 8:30 till noon and Thursday, March 5th, 10:15 to 12:30, we'll be hosting our community service days. the Missouri Department of Conservation. We'll be there to um uh to help kind of guide and provide uh insights in terms of how to um how to make things for a better community. Uh we'll also have student groups with recipient uh and community members uh there as well. So there are there's more information on our website and on the Facebook social media pages. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. The planning and zoning commission met on Wednesday, February 18th. The following items were recommended for approval. A boundary adjustment plat for the adjustment of permanent open space at 13742 Belrest Court to allow for the creation of a fence ement. A boundary adjustment plat for one and two Bel Country Club grounds to adjust the location of a shared property line. And uh due to lack of new business, the planning and zoning commission meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday, March 18th has been cancelled. Uh Mr. May I also like to uh bring up another item for the board's attention that that was developed out of the conversation we had at this most recent meeting. During that meeting, we were discussing an application again to look at modifying permanent open space. In that case, it was only to enclose a resident's yard with a fence. However, since this is the second time in a year that we've been asked to modify permanent open space, I would like to recommend that the planning and zoning commission look to improve the language of permanent open space ordinances under the guidance of the city planner and legal council to better define the objective behind making that designation and bringing forward that recommendation.

Okay, I think that's a very reasonable thing we should look at. And um that word permanent is sometimes can be a very good thing and sometimes troublesome. So I think looking into that to try to define that a little more closely and and I know our staff will be on for sure. I think we'll come back to that sh there's a public works meeting planned for the 16th. um hasn't been a corn yet but or any other information I'll have more information on 9th for everyone if it's still going on or if there's a agenda okay for the 16th and I'll have more information thank you very much appreciate it um moving on to unfinished business u next is bill number 26-04 um sponsor by Freedman and Gerber. Without objection, would the city clerk read the bill for the second time?

Bill number 2604 is an ordinance approving a boundary adjustment flat for 1285 and 1297 Dry Ridge Road in the city of Town of Country and authorizing the boundary adjustment flat to be recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds of St. Louis County. Thank you. I seek a motion and second to approve. So move second. Any um discussion? I would ask the city clerk for a roll call vote. Alderman Gerber. Hi. Alderman Friedman. Hi. Alderman Canella. Hi. Alderman Murphy. Hi. Alderman Hughes. Hi. Alderman Harter. Hi. Again. Alderman Twear. Hi.

The bill passes unanimously and becomes ordinance number 4732. Thank you very much. For the next bill number 2605. I'm going to recuse myself and make the dis and I will ask the president board alderman Murphy to present. Thank you. We'll give it a moment for the mayor to actually

um our first item of business is bill number 2605 sponsored by Harter and Consella. Without objection, will the city clerk read the bill for the second time? Bill number 2605 is an ordinance approving an amended final site development plan for Marie Davilla, city of Town Country, Missouri, with conditions to be complied with and authorizing certification of the amended final site development plan. I seek a motion and a second to approve. So move second. Second. Any discussion or amendment? I would ask the city clerk for a roll call of that. Alderman Harter. I. Alderman Canelo. Hi. Alderman Schwear. Hi, Alderman Freriedman. Hi,

Alderman Hughes. Hi, Alderman Gerber. Hi, and Alderman Murphy. Hi. The bill passes unanimously and becomes ordinance number 4733. Our next item on the agenda is the architectural review continued from February 9th, 26 for Deilla 13900 Clayton Rley. I seek a motion and second to approve. So move second. Any discussion or amendment? A voice vote would be called upon. Uh, all those in favor say I. Any opposed? The vote is passed. Welcome back, Mayor in. Thank you.

Thank you. on new business bill number 26-06 sponsor properly alderman Hughes and all vote sponsored this bill. Yes. And without objection by the city clerk read the bill for the first time. Bill number 2606 is an ordinance approving a conditional use and authorizing a conditional use permit for an accessory structure, a roof mounted solar energy system facing a street located at 12545 Ambersham Court in the city of Town and Country.

Thank you. This bill number 2606 is continued to the meeting Monday, March 9th for the second meeting consideration. Next bill number 26-07 also sponsored by by the board as a whole I would say without objection the city clerk read the bill for the first time. Bill number 2607 is an ordinance amending title 5 chapter 500 building codes and building regulations of the town of country municipal code specifically by the amendment of section 500.100 regarding public notice requirements for architectural review.

Thank you. This bill 2607 is continued also to the meeting Monday, March 9, 2026 with second meeting consideration. I do not have any other topics to bring up, but I would open it to the alderman if they have anything to bring forward. Hearing none, I would seek a motion and second to second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. Have a great evening. Thank you for your time. Thank you.