Discussions of the historic Ridgewood neighborhood continued at the June 3 meeting of the Crestwood Planning and Zoning Commission. The neighborhood has been a topic of conversation in the city since November, when Ward 1 aldermen Jesse Morrison and Jim Zavist introduced the idea of architectural preservation efforts at a town hall for Ridgewood residents.
The June 3 Planning and Zoning meeting introduced the idea of creating a conservation overlay district that would “cover” the Ridgewood neighborhood. This type of district is a zoning tool that would add a few extra regulations to the city’s preexisting zoning rules.
“This would establish certain design guidelines that any future new construction in Ridgewood would be required to follow,” city planner Danny Jendusa said. “The intent would be to continue Ridgewood’s mid-century modern design aesthetic with any future new homes or large additions in the neighborhood. The design guidelines would be added to the city code and administered by the city during the building permit review process for new construction projects. This would not require retrofitting or alterations to existing homes.”
Jendusa added, “It’s just the beginning of the process and not the end. No decisions will be made tonight. Time will be devoted during Planning and Zoning Commission (meetings) throughout the summer.”
Under this proposed policy, new constructions or large additions to homes in the Ridgewood neighborhood would need to keep to a similar design as modeled by architect Ralph Fournier when he designed these homes in the 1950s. This includes low-sloped gable roofs, wide roof overhangs and noncentered alignment of doors and windows beneath the roof bridge.
The maximum building height in Ridgewood would become two stories, as opposed to the two and a half story building limit in the rest of Crestwood. It was also discussed that this conservation overlay district could establish limits for wall heights and the number of steps up to the front door. It also might recommend dimensional standards on front exterior projecting fireplaces — Jendusa said that it “wouldn’t be required for a new home to have it, but if you did, (you’d) mimic the intent and design of the original homes.”
“Staff felt that these proposed requirements would be largely cost-neutral to the property owner or developer — not imposing large new costs, like requiring custom materials, custom windows or features,” Jendusa said.
Applicants who are denied permits due to not meeting these building requirements would be able to seek a variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustment. That board could rule on whether or not the property owner or developer could work slightly outside of those bounds.
The new guidelines under this proposed overlay district would not replace zoning regulations, Jendusa explained, but would operate alongside or on top of current regulations set forth by the city. The overlay district also would not hold the authority to prohibit the demolition of homes, only what characteristics homes must have if being built or renovated.
“These standards could be readily adopted and administered by city staff using their existing capacity and procedures,” Jendusa said. “We wouldn’t need to create any new boards or procedures to put these into effect.”
One resident, Mary Kogut, asked about the nearby segment of Webster Groves that has Ralph Fournier homes of the same architecture. She asked that, in the future, Crestwood be in a relationship with the government in Webster Groves so that “they can move with us” in terms of preserving the neighborhood’s exterior style.
Another resident, Rick Green, rose to offer suggestions to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the present aldermen. One was the suggestion that aldermen Morrison and Zavist recuse themselves from further votes on the regulatory preservation of the Ridgewood neighborhood, since they live in Ridgewood. He also raised concerns about property values depleting if homeowners are restricted in renovations that could support “modern living.”
