St. Charles City Commission Says No to Real Estate Brokerage on Muegge

St. Peters resident Michelle Walker was hoping to move her brokerage firm, STL Buy & Sell, into a house she purchased at 2323 Muegge Road, but the St. Charles Planning and Zoning Commission in December turned down her request to have the property rezoned.

Walker, who lives near the property, said she wanted to change as little as possible to the house. She said she'd like to add parking in between the house and detached garage. 

The house is currently zoned residential, which means it could not be used as a stand-alone office unless it was rezoned. 

City planner Jason Jaggi recommended against the request for rezoning, in part because it could be considered a spot rezoning, and also because it could establish a precedence for non-residential uses in that area. 

Walker pointed out that there are many other businesses located on Muegge Road. 

Commissioner Richard Baum told Walker that this type of change is problematic for the Planning and Zoning Commission because it's "a slippery slope."

"It's not a good thing to have spot zoning," he said. "We can't control the use."

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted down the request. 

In other action, the commission approved a conditional use permit for a secondhand sales establishment in Frenchtown and a group home on West Adams in St. Charles. 

Both items will appear before the St. Charles City Council at the Jan. 8 meeting.