Politics & Government

Committee of Peers: Lake Saint Louis Residents Help Make Decisions for the Community

ARB, DRB, BAB, P&Z: Boards with citizen volunteers deal with building and construction in Part One of this series.

If you've ever taken a look at the Lake Saint Louis city calendar or the list of boards and committees online, you might have wondered what all the initials mean or what purpose each group serves.

Let's first take a look at the boards that govern construction, both new projects and projects for additions or replacements.

 

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The Architectural Review Board (ARB)

The Architectural Review Board, according to the city's website, ensures that "buildings and structures erected in the City conform to certain minimum architectural standards of appearance and conformity with the surrounding natural environment and existing structures."

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The ARB is given its responsibilities by a city ordinance, and those responsibilities include determining compatability with the site itself and surrounding structures in the exterior appearance (volume, height, material, style and color, and "general character of design"). 

When plans are submitted to the Building Department, they are reviewed by city staff and then submitted to the ARB for approval.

The group meets weekly from April through September and bi-weekly from October through March. The committee consists of three regular members and three alternate members. Members are appointed by the mayor and can be removed by the mayor, with approval from the board of aldermen.

Currently serving on the ARB are Judith Westermann, Mike McCombs and  Joyce Corey, with alternates Cyndie LaRico and Robin Rollins, with an alderman liaison.

If an appeal is sought following an ARB decision, the appeal goes to the BAB.

 

The Buildings Appeal Board (BAB)

The Buildings Appeal Board consists of three members who are residents of the City. The BAB hears appeals of the Architectural Review Board and staff's decisions, and includes appeals about the granting of building permits, Building Code interpretation and enforcement. The BAB also deals with appeals to orders to abate nuisances.

Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the original decision. The City Development Administrator then calls a meeting of the BAB within 10 days of receipt of the appeal.

The BAB considers if there was an error in the original decision; if reversing the original decision negatively affects "public health, safety, order, convenience or general welfare of the community;" and if reversing the decision affects the rights of nearby residents, among other issues.

Members are also appointed by the mayor and approved by the board of aldermen, and serve on a volunteer basis.

The current BAB has a vacancy. Serving on the committee are Sandy Harris and Rusty Gunther, along with an alderman liaison.

 

The Development Review Board (DRB)

The Development Review Board regulates non-residential development and structures to "conform to certain minimum architectural standards of appearance and conformity with the surrounding natural environment and existing structures," according to city ordinance.

The DAB consists of six members, five of whom are regular voting members, plus the City Development Administrator as a non-voting member. Those members are designated to be:

  • The mayor
  • One citizen representative at large appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Aldermen
  • One representative from the Planning and Zoning Commission
  • One representative from the Board of Aldermen
  • One representative from the Architectural Review Board
  • The City Development Administrator

In addition, the DRB may adopt additional rules and regulations and prepare an instruction sheet for applicants describing procedures, plans and samples that should be submitted with each application.

Serving on the DRB currently are Mayor Mike Potter, Dennis Zimmer, Alderman Ralph Sidebottom or Alderman Karen Vennard, Frank Guerrettaz and alternate William Fridley from P&Z, Cynthia LaRico from ARB, and the City Development Administrator.

 

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z)

P&Z is an advisory body for the board of aldermen and consists of nine volunteer members. The commission may include the mayor and an alderman and citizen members who serve four-year terms and are chosen by the mayor and approved by the board of aldermen.

Among the duties of the P&Z are:

  • Preparing a master plan for the physical development of the city
  • Recommending zoning requirements and regulations as to the location, height and width of buildings and other structures
  • Hearing applications for amendments, modifications or revisions of the city code
  • Considering all requests for special use permits
  • Reviewing the the city code and the official master plan and reporting recommendations to the board of aldermen
  • Reporting annually to the board of aldermen

Currently serving on the commission are Chairman Gary Turner, Vice Chairman Gary Torlina, Pearson Buell, William Fridley, Frank Guerrettaz, Glen Heiman, Rhonda Ferrett, Mayor Mike Potter and Alderman Kathy Schweikert.

 

Board of Adjustment

The Board of Adjustment consists of five residents appointed by the mayor who serve no other position or office in the city. These volunteers serve five-year terms.

The board's purpose is to review and approve variances on requirements for construction. They consider:

  • If the physical site presents difficulties or hardships in adhering to city code
  • If the request is based exclusively on greater financial return
  • If the variance would be detrimental to the neighborhood
  • If the variance would impair light or air to neighboring properties, increase traffic, increase risk of fire or endanger safety or property values

 

The Board of Adjustment must make a decision within 30 days of a public hearing on the requested variance. Currently serving on the board are Chairman Carl F. Tarricone, Rev. Robert Thompson, Don Milberg, John Thompson, John Strong, Benjamin Borengasser and an alderman liaison.

Tomorrow we'll look at the Park Board, the Tree Board and the Green Committee.

 

 

 

 


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