Crestwood Board of Aldermen Regular Meeting – April 28, 2026

The Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Aldermanic Chambers. The meeting included presentations on a student art display and a neighborhood survey, a public hearing for a Chase Bank drive-thru ATM, extensive discussion on Liggett Avenue traffic calming, approval of a consent agenda (with one item removed and separately passed), selection of a board president, and strategic planning discussions on connectivity/lighting and the Family Games Center design.

Presentations, Communications and Appointments

• Lindbergh Student Art Presentation: Students from the Lindbergh School District presented artwork that will be displayed in the city lobby from the April 30 open house through August. The mayor read the book "Maybe Something Beautiful" to classes as part of the collaboration.
• Ridgewood Neighborhood Survey Results: City Planner Jinduza presented results of a survey of the mid-century modern Ridgewood neighborhood (304 postcards mailed, 104 responses). Key findings: 75% said architectural character is very important; 68% strongly support city involvement in preservation; 67% support design standards for new construction; 75% favor stricter height limits; 79% favor demolition review. Staff asked for informal blessing to continue community engagement, draft code amendments over the summer, and bring a final recommendation in fall.
• Certification of April 2026 Election Results: City clerk read certified results: Mayor Scott Shipley re-elected unopposed (1,561 votes). Four charter amendment propositions all passed: Proposition 1 (clarifications) 1,618 yes / 184 no; Proposition 2 (efficiency) 1,369 yes / 416 no; Proposition 3 (election alignment) 1,540 yes / 246 no; Proposition 4 (term of office) 1,054 yes / 733 no.
• Oath of Office: Mayor Shipley was sworn in for a new term, followed by a second roll call confirming all aldermen present.

Public Hearing – Chase Bank Conditional Use Permit (CUP)

• Proposal: Chase Bank seeks a drive-thru ATM at 9315 Watson Road in the PD-C district. The bank branch will be 3,300 sq ft with 14 parking spaces, right-in/right-out access from Watson, and a new access road.
• Testimony: Jennifer Smith (Collier's Engineering) testified the CUP and site plan were approved by the Planning Commission three weeks prior. No public testimony for or against.
• Decision: The board approved the ordinance on first and second readings by unanimous 8-0 roll call votes. The city attorney will prepare findings of fact consistent with approval.

Public Comments & Testimony

• James Hahn (904 Leewood Drive) – Opposed mini roundabouts on Liggett Avenue, stating they won't improve traffic, are not a good use of funds, and will reduce parking. Supported speed humps and crosswalks already installed.
• Rick Green (1136 4th Street) – Opposed Ridgewood historic preservation initiative, arguing there is no identified problem, that it adds red tape, and that survey methodology may not be reliable. Cited need for addressing vacant commercial properties and infrastructure instead.
• Don Gross (911 Grovina Drive) – Opposed mini roundabouts on Liggett, referencing resident disinterest and third-party assessment recommending against them; supported permanent speed display signs and raised bump-outs.
• Julie Kaufman (Liggett resident) – Expressed frustration over delays; urged action to address speeding on Liggett.
• Michelle Forrest (Ridgewood resident) – Thanked the board for progress on Ridgewood preservation, new sidewalks, and other improvements.
• Amanda Bjornsson (1001 Ferndale Avenue) – Urged the board to base Liggett traffic calming decision on professional recommendation (CMT) and majority of Liggett residents, supporting mini roundabouts (option A-B).

Discussion Items – Liggett Traffic Calming Resolution

• Background: Mayor summarized extensive review: initial resolution (25-08) passed in June 2025 with mini roundabouts; after public feedback, CMT was hired to provide alternatives; at the March meeting, CMT presented Option B (bump-outs with speed feedback signs). The board requested both options for side-by-side comparison tonight.
• Options: Option A (original 12-ft mini roundabouts at Leewood, Grovina, Coffee, with crosswalks at intersection); Option A-B (refined mini roundabouts with crosswalks moved away from intersection per federal standards, increased cost); Option B (bump-outs at same intersections, plus speed feedback signs estimated at $12,000, which staff recommended against).
• Discussion: Aldermen expressed preferences: Several (Aldermen Maybe, Morrison, Seven, Hall) favored Option A-B due to effectiveness for traffic calming, pedestrian safety (reducing T-bone risk), and alignment with engineering recommendation. Alderman Zavis opposed A-B, citing concerns about if stop signs are not converted to yields and crosswalks being unused; he favored Option B. Chief Williams noted fire department response not a concern for either option, but multiple speed humps would increase response times.
• Amendments: The board first moved to adopt Option A-B (motion by Alderman Maybe, seconded, voice vote passed). Then the mayor proposed an amendment to section 3 to allow staff minor design adjustments without returning to board; seconded; after brief discussion (Alderman Maybe moved to amend to restrict material changes, but withdrew), amendment passed. Alderman Zavis requested conversion of affected intersections to four-way yield signs, which staff committed to bring as a separate ordinance.
• Vote on Resolution as Amended: Roll call: 7 yes (Aldermen Maybe, Ballas, Morrison, Seven, Hall, Jadala, Zavist? No, Zavis voted no) – 7 yes, 1 no. Resolution passed.

Consent Agenda

• Items Approved Unanimously (8-0): Approval of April 14 minutes; Aldermanic Representative Appointments 2026-2027; Proclamation for Law Day 2026; Purchase of fire department PPE from MacQueen; Agreement with Smith and Sons Contracting for Sanders Demolition Project #2; Agreement with Engineering Evaluations for rental re-occupancy inspections; Agreement with Smith and Sons for 2026 Sidewalk Replacement; Lease with Gastro Good Times (The Barn) for Sappington House Barn Center.
• Item Removed: Alderman Maybe removed the ordinance for the Government Center Vestibule Security Project (ICS Construction) due to cost overrun ($100K over budget). After discussion on budget tracking, the board approved it on first and second readings by unanimous 8-0 votes.

New Business

• Selection of Board of Aldermen President: Alderman Hall was nominated and elected by voice vote (no opposition).
• Strategic Plan – Connectivity and Lighting Policy Discussion: The board identified key pedestrian/cycling destinations: parks, schools (Crestwood, Long, Truman, Holy Cross, St. Justin), Grant's Trail, Watson Road commercial corridor, and potentially churches. Aldermen suggested adding Rock Hill Road to Watson, Sappington, and Lindbergh (outside city) as connectors. Staff will refine the network and bring back gap analysis.
• Strategic Plan – Family Games Center Design Discussion: The board discussed whether to include a permanent stage (band shell) in the design. Aldermen Seven, Zavist, Morrison, Ballis, Hall supported inclusion; Alderman Maybe opposed, stating that the master plan calls for an amphitheater at the bottom of the sledding hill (Whitecliff Park), that voters were not informed of a stage in Proposition A materials, and that if pursued it should be funded from general fund reserves, not bond money. No formal vote; consensus to include stage as part of the design discussion with the architect this summer, with location to be determined.

Key Outcomes

• Chase Bank CUP Approved (8-0) – Ordinance passed both readings.
• Liggett Traffic Calming Resolution Adopted (7-1) – Option A-B (mini roundabouts with adjusted crosswalks) approved with staff flexibility on design details. Yield signs to be addressed in separate ordinance.
• Consent Agenda Approved (8-0) – All items passed including the security vestibule project after separate discussion.
• Board President Elected – Alderman Hall selected.
• Connectivity Policy Direction – Board identified priority destinations; staff to develop network map and identify gaps.
• Family Games Center – Stage to be part of summer design discussions.
• Future Issues – Alderman Maybe requested staff to explore adding white street signs with city logo on Watson Road; cost to be determined. Alderman Morrison urged swift completion of Sanders demolition to rebuild community confidence.