Davis Place Ordinance Tabled at Board of Aldermen Meeting

The Clayton Board of Aldermen passed a series of ordinances Tuesday in a one-hour meeting—with one notable exception.

The night's agenda included the discussion of an ordinance to approve on-street parking restrictions in the Davis Place subdivision. The ordinance stems from Central Presbyterian Church's request to demolish some nearby buildings in order to for its congregation to use on Sundays and during weekday events.

But Ward 3 Alderman Alex Berger, who sat in for Mayor Linda Goldstein, recommended that the topic be tabled for future discussion. The Board of Aldermen approved the plan, postponing discussion of the ordinance until its first meeting in May. Berger did not go into detail about why the matter should be postponed.

Also on Tuesday, the aldermen approved a conditional use permit for to construct a 28-foot clock tower outside the bank at 50 S. Bemiston Ave.

"What we’re talking about tonight is part of that project of redoing the plaza on the request of the Public Works Department," said Tyler Stevens of Core10 Architecture. "The bank really wanted to make the plaza a special-interest place and spruce it up a little bit, and as a part of that include a clock tower."

The nearby fountain and sidewalks would also receive an overhaul.

"That building definitely has a dated look to it, and this will definitely clean it up," Stevens said.

Stevens assured the aldermen that the clock tower would not be lit. They approved the resolution unanimously.

Another hot topic of the night: Bill No. 6260. The ordinance would allow Centene Corporation to build a covered pedestrian bridge from the north side of the Centene Building at 7711 Cardondelet Ave. to a parking garage. The pedestrian walkway would allow tenants and employees to walk to and from the garage without crossing the alley underneath.

The proposed curving overpass would provide a clearance of just 15 feet 2 inches at its lowest point, nearly two feet less than the 17-foot overpass clearance recommended by the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Ward 2 Alderman Cynthia Garnholz expressed some skepticism about the proposal, fearing trucks that haul waste might hit the walkway.

“It sounds worrisome to me, but I’m not an engineer,” Garnholz said. “It seems to be if you overinflated your tires, you could hit the bridge."

Clayton public works director Mike Pratt assured the aldermen that thorough studies have demonstrated that the walkway would provide enough clearance for the contracted waste haulers—trucks that stand 14 feet high—to pass.

After some discussion among the aldermen, Pratt, an engineering consultant and two representatives from Centene Corporation, the ordinance passed unanimously.

for were approved by the board without much discussion. The approval allows the school to consolidate two Hillcrest Subdivision lots for parking purposes: the current parking lot, plus a tract of land that includes the school building and athletic field.

The proposed parking-lot consolidation meets zoning requirements, City Manager Craig Owens said. The change also will create a wider alley for fire department equipment access.

The aldermen also approved fiscal year 2011 budget amendments, a renewal of the expanded outdoor dining season from May 1 to Nov. 15 and a conditional use permit for Break-N-Egg Diner, a breakfast restaurant owned by Ruhi Sirkeci set to open at 7814 Forsyth Blvd.

The seasonal dining resolution to allow restaurants to seat customers on sidewalks has been reapproved every year since 2004. Ward 1 Alderman Judy Goodman said she hopes the seasonal allowance becomes a lasting fixture in Clayton rather than a resolution that must be passed annually.

"I just want to say that outdoor dining has been such an enhancement and an asset," Goodman said. "It's really an attraction to Clayton, and I think we’ve regulated it in a way that it makes sense for our city, and it’s time to get to that next step and have something that’s more permanent."