Crestwood Board of Aldermen Regular Meeting and Public Hearing – October 28, 2026

The Crestwood Board of Aldermen met at approximately 7:00 p.m. on October 28, 2026, in the Aldermanic Chambers at the Crestwood Government Center, 1 Detjen Drive, Crestwood, Missouri. The regular meeting continued past 9:15 p.m. Seven aldermen were present and formed a quorum; Alderperson Nangle Worum was excused. The agenda included the Q3 financial presentation, the Family Games/Pickleball/Amphitheater concept presentation, a public hearing on the proposed Ridgewood Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District, continued discussion of the sewer lateral fund, and approval of a court-services agreement with Sunset Hills.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the October 13, 2026 Board of Aldermen regular meeting minutes.
• Approved an ordinance authorizing the purchase and installation of furniture for the Cliffs at Whitecliff Park from Circadia and authorizing negotiation and execution of a contract by city officials.
• The consent agenda passed by roll-call vote, 7-0; no items were removed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• During the Ridgewood public hearing, Chaz Weeby (Liggett Drive) opposed the overlay, asking whether other Crestwood neighborhoods face similar limits and calling the proposal a government-appropriated HOA. He said he has long planned a home addition and is concerned about restrictions on property use.
• Angela Seven (Yorkshire States Drive), a Planning and Zoning Commission member, expressed concern about insufficient neighborhood buy-in. She cited a first-survey return rate of 34%, a second-survey return rate of 28 responses, about 10%, and said positive support falls to roughly 23–27% when non-responses are included. She recommended that neighborhood property owners organize and demonstrate majority support before the city enact the overlay.
• Neil Chase (Liggett Drive), a 19-year Ridgewood homeowner, said his family strongly supports the overlay, citing Ridgewood’s architectural and social character and the need to prevent incompatible redevelopment.
• Nancy Woods (Coffee Drive), a 27-year resident, supported the overlay and said she wants to avoid inappropriate large redevelopment in the neighborhood.
• Caleb Sexton (Trelaine Avenue) supported preserving Ridgewood’s front-facing mid-century design but cautioned against over-limiting non-street-facing additions.
• During general public comment, Ted Yim (Clydesdale) praised the Family Games Center drawings but said he is disappointed that food and beverage service was not included, and he noted the existing amphitheater stage should not simply be removed.

Public Hearing – Ridgewood Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District

• The city planner presented a proposed text amendment to Chapter 26 establishing a conservation overlay district for Ridgewood. The district would apply design guidelines to new construction and additions above 400 square feet or visible from the street, including low-slope gable roofs, off-center ridge lines, wide roof overhangs, a two-story/25-foot height limit, wall-height limits, finished-floor elevation no more than one foot above grade, restrictions on centering windows and doors under roof ridges, and dimensional requirements for front-projecting chimneys. Existing homes, repairs, and non-conforming features would be grandfathered; staff would administer the rules through regular permitting, with appeals to the Planning and Zoning Commission and review by the Board.
• Development included a November 2025 town hall, summer Planning and Zoning public hearings, and a Planning and Zoning recommendation of 6-0-1. The final survey mailed to property owners drew 28 responses, with 85% of respondents in support and two opposed.
• Board discussion included support from Alderperson Now, Alderman Zavis, Alderman Seven, Alderman Morrison, and Alderman Hall, who described the guidelines as a relatively light touch and a preservation opportunity. Alderman Maybe opposed the ordinance, calling it a pseudo-HOA, arguing it is a solution in search of a problem, would restrict property rights, may slow property-value growth, and that the neighborhood’s founders did not choose to impose such restrictions.
• The Board voted 6-1 to approve the ordinance on first reading, with Alderman Maybe the sole no vote. The second reading was set for the next meeting’s old business.

Discussion Items

• Q3 Financial Presentation: The city administrator presented the financial report. The 2026 general fund budget projects revenues of $15,145,856, expenditures of $14,955,682, and a positive fund-balance change of $191,174. Q3 revenues were approximately $2.806 million against expenditures of roughly $3.4–$3.5 million, a $673,000 negative variance. Compared with Q3 2025, revenues fell $500,000 and expenditures fell $224,000. September sales tax decreased $206,000 because St. Louis County recalculated distributions; grant income fell $309,000; investment earnings fell $53,000; licensing and permits rose $30,000. The capital improvement fund budget has revenues of $2,382,000, expenditures of $2,799,000, and a budgeted deficit of $416,000. Parks and stormwater funds budgeted revenues of almost $2.6 million against expenditures of $2.7 million, a $151,000 deficit. The sewer lateral fund originally budgeted $148,000 in revenues and $188,000 in expenditures, with $80,000 added later through budget amendments.
• Family Games/Pickleball/Amphitheater Presentation: Bond Architects and Navigate Building Solutions presented the refined concept for Whitecliff Park. The design includes a grass-terraced amphitheater for roughly 500–600 people, four pickleball courts with a shade pavilion, a regulation shuffleboard court, bocce/cornhole turf courts, a double-wide bocce court, ADA ramps, an access drive for performers and fire apparatus, restrooms, and a green room. The project evolved after renovating the existing community center would have triggered full code compliance; renovation estimates rose from about $2.6 million to just under $5 million, while the current amphitheater concept was previously estimated at $3.9 million including retaining walls and assumed 10% contingency and 4% escalation. Removing retaining walls is expected to save $200,000–$300,000, and the project team is hopeful of landing near $3.5–$3.7 million. Schematic design is planned to begin November 9, 2026, with a schematic-design estimate before Christmas; construction documents are targeted for May 6, 2027, bidding around June 2027, and construction after the new community center is complete and the old pool and center close. Board members asked about cost reductions, amphitheater accessibility, bench placement, bocce court layout, shade structures, and the proposed storage-room elimination.
• Sewer Lateral Fund Discussion: The city administrator distributed a memo continuing prior discussions. The program is funded by a per-property fee on tax bills of about $25–$28 and currently allows city contribution up to $10,000 per repair with a 50% cost-share provision. Staff reviewed cost-containment options, including lower repair thresholds of $2,500, $3,500, $5,000, and $7,500, eliminating the 50% cost share, reimbursing homeowners rather than managing contractor work, and charging administrative fees. Using 2025 data, a $2,500 threshold would have saved about $29,000, roughly 19.5% of annual project costs, and affected 20 projects. Projected FY27 administrative costs are $25,604 if retained. Staff found 17 of 24 local municipalities recover administrative costs and found no regional municipality funding sewer lateral work through a property tax; repair costs did not correlate with home size or value. Board members offered differing views on reimbursement versus city-managed repairs, keeping or lowering the threshold, raising the fee toward the $50 statutory cap, or placing a property tax before voters. No decision was made; the mayor asked staff to bring back a stronger proposal with options and five-year projections for a future meeting.

Mayor, Board and City Administrator Reports

• Reports highlighted a successful Suncrest Fest, including a well-attended parade, car show, toddler area, and volunteer participation by both Crestwood and Sunset Hills; an upcoming Santa Car Cruise on December 5; ongoing restoration of the Sappington House chimneys; the SR Blue ribbon-cutting; and a Girl Scouts tour of city facilities.
• The mayor reported recycling events diverted a combined 60,000 pounds from landfills: 10,000 pounds of paper, 20,000 pounds of paint, and 30,000 pounds of electronics.

New Business – Sunset Hills Municipal Division Services Agreement

• The Board considered an ordinance approving an agreement with the City of Sunset Hills for the provision of municipal division services, authorizing the mayor and city administrator to execute the agreement.
• The ordinance passed unanimously, 7-0, on first reading and again on second reading, giving final approval.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent agenda, including the October 13 minutes and the Circadia furniture contract, 7-0.
• Approved the Ridgewood Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District ordinance on first reading, 6-1; the second reading will appear on the next meeting’s old business.
• Approved the Sunset Hills municipal division services agreement, 7-0 on final passage.
• Continued the sewer lateral fund discussion without action; staff will prepare options and multi-year projections.
• Received the Q3 financial report and the Whitecliff Park Family Games/Pickleball/Amphitheater concept; schematic design is scheduled to begin November 9, 2026.
• Adjourned to closed session immediately after the regular meeting to discuss legal, real estate, and contract matters under RSMo 610.021(1), (2), and (12).