Clayton Plan Commission — October 5: R7 district rezoned to M3, zoning text amendment forwarded to council
The commission recommended two major zoning changes to the City Council and continued two applications, with one member absent.
What happened
The Clayton Plan Commission & Architectural Review Board met on the evening of October 5, 2026. The commission voted to recommend to the City Council both a rezoning of the R7 high-density multifamily dwelling district to M3 and a sweeping text amendment to the city's zoning code, including new residential infill design guidelines. Two applications were continued to future meetings: a rear addition at 48 Arundel Place and a permeable-paver request at 167 North Central Avenue. A conditional use permit for a new restaurant at 105 Carondelet Plaza was forwarded to the City Council for approval.
What the commission decided
- Recommended approval of the R7-to-M3 rezoning — The commission voted to recommend to the City Council that four parcels on South Brentwood Boulevard, currently zoned R7 high-density multifamily, be rezoned to M3. Staff had found that R7 produced multiple nonconformities for those properties and that M3 better matched existing conditions and the comprehensive plan's mixed-use designation for the area.
- Recommended approval of the zoning code text amendment as submitted — The commission voted to forward the proposed text amendment — including dimensional regulation revisions and new residential infill design guidelines applying to the R1, R2, R3, and R5 districts — to the City Council as written.
- Recommended approval of a conditional use permit for 105 Carondelet Plaza — The commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve a conditional use permit allowing a restaurant to operate in the former Tony's space at 105 Carondelet Plaza, with approximately 116 interior and 37 exterior seats.
- Continued 48 Arundel Place to the next meeting (October 19) — After the applicant signed a waiver of the 60-day review requirement, the commission voted to continue the architectural review of a proposed rear addition to its October 19 meeting so that building materials and the project architect could be presented.
- Continued 167 North Central Avenue to a future date — At the applicant's attorney's request, the commission voted to continue a permeable-paver green-space reduction request to a future date to be determined, noting that the 60-day review window had not been waived and the item would be placed on the last agenda before that window closes if additional materials are not received.
- Approved the September 14 minutes with a minor correction — The commission approved the minutes of its previous meeting with a correction to the conditions of approval for a prior item.
Who was there
Roll call recorded the following members present: Steve Lichtenfeld, Helen DiFate, Jim Arsenault, Chris Brennan, Blair Kweskin, and Susan Buse. The transcript also reflects participation by members referred to as "Larry" and "Anna," though neither name appeared in the roll call as recorded in the available transcript. One seat appears to have been vacant at roll call; the record does not name an absent member.