Planning and Zoning Officials Give Weber Chrevrolet Project A Green Light

The Planning and Zoning Commission OK'd a proposal Monday night that will bring changes to one of the buildings seen as a gateway into the city.

submitted the plan to update the dealership's facility on Olive Boulevard and Interstate 270 as part of an overall Chevrolet move to standardize the company's look.

City planners have been critical of efforts to impose "corporate architecture" with other businesses in Creve Coeur, including a lengthy debate with

Under the Weber proposal, there will be a new facade and a new entryway shaded in "Chevrolet Blue" along with an additional 2,800 square feet of showroom space. Creve Coeur's Director Community Development Paul Langdon praised Weber's willingness to deviate from the original plan it submitted.

Weber officials think the design approved Monday, which still needs City Council approval, is about "99 percent" of what Chrevrolet desired from the project.

If all goes as planned, construction could begin in October and be wrapped up by April or May.

Also Monday, City Attorney Carl Lumley provided Planning and Zoning Members with something of a refresher course on ethics, reminding members, including three recent additions to the panel, about city and state codes regarding conflict of interest, Freedom of Information and other areas.

Commissioner Gary Eberhardt asked Lumley to address the issue of so-called . Council members and some members of the public have raised concerns about contacts made between developers and city elected officials over fears that those contacts could lead to false impressions or a perception that a project was "a done deal" before it went through city approval.

Lumley told the Commission the issue is a political decision, and not a question of law.