St. Charles Reviews Development and Preservation

On December 10, 2024, the St. Charles Planning & Development Committee met for nearly 57 minutes to review a range of development and historic preservation matters, including a PUD preliminary plan, zoning amendments, and a high-profile demolition request.

PUD Preliminary Plan: Pair of Petroleum

• Project Overview: Lot 4 of the Foxwood PUD will host a 6,000 sq ft office building compatible with the existing petroleum facility, featuring front/rear parking and cross-access.

• Key Discussion Points:

  • Approximately 8–10 new employees anticipated, raising pedestrian safety concerns at Main Street/Route 64.

  • Staff tasked with considering crosswalks and pedestrian/bike plan updates.

• Council Decision: Plan unanimously approved.

General Amendment: Motor Vehicle Storage

• Amendment Details: Modifies Chapter 17.14 to allow permanent motor vehicle storage in the BC community business district on lots without street frontage.

• Applicant: Sled Gardens LLC, for storage of Mercedes-Benz dealership vehicles.

• Conditions for Approval:

  • Lot must not have street frontage.

  • Lot must not be adjacent to residential areas.

  • Minimum one-acre size.

• Council Decision: Amendment approved, noting that only a few other parcels meet these restrictive criteria.

Historic Preservation: 217 Cedar Avenue (Judge Barry House)

• Background: Baker Memorial United Methodist Church owns the property and seeks demolition to create additional parking for its campus and community events.

• Historic Significance:

  • Originally rated “non-contributing” in 1994; re-evaluated as historically significant due to association with Judge Barry and local historical figures.

• Committee Discussion:

  • Church highlighted financial burden of maintaining the house, limited parking capacity, and failed attempts to sell or develop the property since 2017.

  • Committee discussed potential alternative solutions, including city acquisition or facilitating private sale for rehabilitation, possibly with tax credits or facade improvement programs.

• Council Decision: Demolition decision postponed indefinitely to allow collaborative exploration of solutions between city staff and the church.

Additional Notes

• Staff were asked to document crosswalk and pedestrian safety concerns near Main Street and Woodward Drive for future planning updates.

• The meeting highlighted the balance between development needs, community safety, and historic preservation.