Gettemeier's Bar Gets Planning and Zoning Approval

Immediately after the took effect, approached the Florissant Planning and Zoning commission with plans to add an outdoor patio area to accommodate smoking customers for . The commission ended up voting to table the item until Gettemeier could provide more comprehensive plans.

On Monday night, the result ended a little differently as the commission approved recommendation for Gettemeier’s outdoor space.

Ted Thomas of Dezign Worx presented on behalf of Gettemeier and explained the plans for the outdoor area. In addition, he presented the commissioners with a letter from the St. Louis County Department of Health approving of the current plans for the outdoor smoking area space.

“That was a great battle and victory to receive a waiver,” Thomas said.

The plan would allow for Gettemeier’s Bar and Grill to take over the space at 1752 Thunderbird Ave. to allow for an outdoor facility. Thomas said that the space would allow for customers who smoke to be in the area from March until November throughout the year.

The main question on commissioners minds boiled down the parking of the lot.

Building Commissioner Philip Lum said that currently the entire strip mall area houses 70 parking spots, with Gettemeier’s hosting 53 of them.

Thomas said that the current plans would allow for as many as eight additional parking spaces with the expansion. However, commissioners still worried regarding parking for other businesses as well as the overflow of spaces.

Gettemeier contended that since the smoking ban, he’s seen a decrease in business, and he would like his business back to levels before the ban took effect, which would not use all allotted spaces.

Thomas said that under the first issuance of a special use permit for the bar, the commission gave a one-year trial period to study the parking situation and suggested the same for this issuance.

In the end, the planning and zoning approved a recommendation for the outdoor patio space addition with a few stipulations, including, further discussion of the parking situation with the building commissioner, an 18-month trial period with parking, making sure that the restaurant’s tables meet the American Disabilities Association guidelines for seating and that the gates be alarmed.