P&Z Comes Closer to Amending Florissant Historic Business District Uses

Building Commissioner Philip Lum and Planning and Zoning commissioners carefully examined the amended list of uses for the Historic Business District Monday night.

Commissioners received documentation for other nearby cities, such as St. Charles, Ferguson, Webster Groves and Kirkwood, regarding their uses and handling of their business districts to be considered.

Lum presented the commissioners with a list of the amended uses discussed during its March 19 meeting.

During that meeting, commissioners studied each business and its possible use line by line. According to the meeting’s minutes, several businesses had been eliminated or consolidated, such as hotel and motel, dental offices and grocery store, while others were changed to be a special use or permitted use in the district.

A permitted use would allow for a business to obtain all permits and necessities without hesitation. A special permitted use, which is an option for the commission, would have businesses present their plans and information to the Planning and Zoning Commission followed by the City Council for approval.

Monday night, commissioners reviewed the updated amendments and pointed to further changes needing to be made, such as changing “dance school” to “dance studio.”

Lead Commissioner Jane Boyle and other commissioners agreed that they would like to have the new changes in hand before making a motion to approve the item.

Commissioner Paul Stock said he would really like to hear from the Landmarks Historic District Commission before working on a motion as well.

Lum pointed out that the landmarks commission meets at the end of the month, so he wouldn’t have any new information until the Planning and Zoning’s May 7 meeting.

The commission voted to continue the item until its May 7 meeting.