Welcome to Maryland heights, MO

The Division of Planning and Zoning is responsible for enforcing the City's codes and regulations regarding development on non-public land. Planning and Zoning staff work with the Planning Commission and City Council to develop and update the City's Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Code, and Subdivision Code. They also advise the Commission and Council on zoning matters like Conditional Use Permits and Planned Districts. To contact Planning and Zoning staff, please call (314) 291-6550 or e-mail planning@marylandheights.com.

Comprehensive planning is the process that establishes goals and policies intended to guide community development. The product of comprehensive planning is the Comprehensive Plan, which guides public policy in terms of future development. Comprehensive plans are usually citywide in scope, address a broad range of topics, and cover a long-term time horizon. The incorporation of smaller neighborhood-focused studies into the plan is a standard way to address the unique qualities of a particular geographic area, such as a historic or other special district.

The Comprehensive Plan is the policy guide of the Planning Commission for the development of the ordinances and procedures necessary to implement the plan, such as the Zoning Code, Subdivision Code, Capital Improvement Program, etc.

The development of the Comprehensive Plan is a multiple step process where input is sought from community stakeholders, such as residents, property owners, business owners, neighborhood groups, and other community-based organizations. The Public Engagement Plan outlines the steps taken by the Department to actively seek public input on planning issues. Discussion focuses on a range of interconnecting issues that affect a community, such as transportation, utilities, land use, recreation, economic development, and housing. By Missouri statute, final responsibility for the development of the Comprehensive Plan rests with the Planning Commission.

The Comprehensive Plan is a living document. As conditions change, new issues arise, or assumptions prove to be inaccurate, it can be updated or rewritten. Plans are typically revised or updated every five to seven years in order remain relevant to the community.

For questions, please contact the Michael Zeek at mzeek@marylandheights.com or 314-738-2232.

Learn more about the zoning and subdivision process by clicking on the links below:

Conditional Use Permits

Planned Districts

Zoning Code and Zoning Map Amendments

Variances

Subdivisions (including Boundary Adjustments and Lot Consolidations)

The Zoning Code comprises Chapter 25 of the City’s Municipal Code. The purpose of the Zoning Code is to regulate and control the zoning and the use of land and buildings within the city in order to promote the public safety, health and general welfare of the citizens. Specifically, the Zoning Code controls the use of property and the density of development and provides standards for site improvements such as parking, lighting, landscaping, building design and signage to ensure consistent, orderly and well-designed development.

Two versions of the Zoning Code are available on this page. The Codified Version of the Code is that which has been adopted by the City Council. The Interpretive Version presents the Code in a two-column format with supplemental commentary, interpretations, photographs and illustrations to help the reader better understand and use the Code. This version was the recipient of the St. Louis Municipal League's Innovation Award for 2009. It is important to keep in mind that the information contained in the sidebar of the Interpretive Version is purely informational and does not represent the official Zoning Code that has been adopted by the City of Maryland Heights.

Each section is available for download below. The complete Zoning Code may also be downloaded at the bottom.

DOCUMENT	VERSION	VERSION
Table of Contents	Codified	Interpretive
Article 1 - Legal Provisions	Codified	Interpretive
Article 2 - Amendments	Codified	Interpretive
Article 3 - Public Notice	Codified	Interpretive
Article 4 - Site Plan Review	Codified	Interpretive
Article 5 - Conditional Use Permits	Codified	Interpretive
Article 6 - Planned Districts	Codified	Interpretive
Article 7 - Nonconforming Lots, Structures and Uses	Codified	Interpretive
Article 8 - City Planner	Codified	Interpretive
Article 9 - Variances	Codified	Interpretive
Article 10 - Administration and Enforcement	Codified	Interpretive
Article 11 - Schedule of District Regulations	Codified	Interpretive
Article 12 - Supplementary District Regulations	Codified	Interpretive
Article 13 - Building Design Standards	Codified	Interpretive
Article 14 - Parking and Loading Regulations	Codified	Interpretive
Article 15 - Sign Regulations	Codified	Interpretive
Article 16 - Landscape Design Standards	Codified	Interpretive
Article 17 - Environmental Standards	Codified	Interpretive
Article 18 - Lighting Design Standards	Codified	Interpretive
Article 19 - Air Navigation and Airports	Codified	Interpretive
Article 20 - Bus Shelter Design Standards	Codified	Interpretive
Article 21 - Excursion Gambling	Codified	Interpretive
Article 22 - Home-Based Businesses	Codified	Interpretive
Article 23 - Motor Vehicle Oriented Businesses	Codified	Interpretive
Article 24 - Sexually Oriented Businesses	Codified	Interpretive
Article 25 - Temporary Structures and Outdoor Storage	Codified	Interpretive
Article 26 - Walkways and Bikeways	Codified	Interpretive
Article 27 - Wireless Communication Regulations	Codified	Interpretive
Article 28 - Itinerant Merchants	Codified	Interpretive
Appendix A - Rules and Definitions	Codified	Interpretive
Appendix B - Land Use and Required Parking Matrix	Codified	Interpretive
Appendix C - Resources, Guides and Industry Standards	Codified	Interpretive
Appendix D - City Streets by Functional Classification	Codified	Interpretive
ZONING CODE - COMPLETE	Codified	Interpretive

Background

In August 2012, East-West Gateway Council of Governments selected Dorsett Road for funding in the Initiative’s second round of regional demonstration projects. A little over three miles long, Dorsett Road serves as the “Main Street” for Maryland Heights’ residents, workers, and visitors. While creating a street that supports and promotes all modes of travel, this project expands the vision for Dorsett Road outside the right-of-way to consider how street design choices can impact surrounding land uses and support development opportunities. Making Dorsett Road a Great Street will require closely working with the community to provide careful and intentional planning that supports a fully functional multi-modal suburban environment and sets a framework for future development.

A Great Street . . .

Reflects the neighborhood through which it passes in scale and design.
Allows people to walk comfortably and safely.
Contributes to the economic vitality of the city.
Supports a balance of transportation modes including transit, walking, bicycling, autos and freight.
Strikes a balance among the elements of modern mobility: travel, local circulation and access.
Includes places that are memorable and interesting.
Provides an attractive and refreshing environment by working with natural systems.

The Project

The study focused on the following:

Transportation and transit planning
Improvement of pedestrian and bicycle accommodations
Identification of opportunities for open space, parks and trails networks
Outlined aesthetic improvements that create destinations within the corridor
The creation of community gathering places and assets
Economic development and land use planning

Public Engagement

More than 250 people attended at least one of three public meetings. Various other media outlets were used to engage the community including local TV and newspapers, the City Newsletter, social media, advertising on Metro buses, direct mailings, posters and postcards distributed to businesses along the corridor and variable message signs along the corridor.

Key Recommendations:

Prepare an update to the city’s Comprehensive Plan to make permanent the vision for the corridor.
Collaborate more closely with the business community in the study area.
Amend the city’s zoning ordinance to accommodate more flexible uses and site plans.
Encourage the identified preferred land uses at specific nodes along the corridor (see map).

Over time, add the following amenities to Dorsett Road:

Enhanced crosswalks to provide safer crossings, particularly at certain mid-block areas.
Create a multi-use path that extends the length of the corridor. This path would create community-wide connections between neighborhoods and businesses, and create closer linkages to amenities such as Creve Coeur Park.
Add new signage, lighting, and street trees to create a cohesive appearance for the corridor.
Install public art that can serve as a focal point for the community and help encourage the expression of the city’s identity.

Links to the plan as submitted:

PLEASE NOTE: This plan has not been reviewed or approved by the Planning Commission or the City Council

Update (January, 2018)

Since the plan was completed, work has focused on the stretch of Dorsett Road roughly between the I-270 interchange west to the end of the commercial strip. In 2014, the City worked with St. Louis County to secure federal funding for the following Great Street improvements:

A mid-block pedestrian activated crossing (between McKelvey Road and I-270)
Repaving Dorsett from I-270 west to the end of the commercial strip
Replacing the traffic signal located on Dorsett Road between Dorsett Square and Dorsett Village
Americans with Disability Act improvements

Construction is expected to start in 2018.

For the second phase, the City engaged with a consulting team to look at options for implementing a multi-use path along the same portion of the corridor. This effort is looking into underground and above ground utility locations, right-of-way, and other possible constraints to constructing the path. The City is also looking into reconfiguring the intersection at Dorsett and McKelvey Roads to make it more accessible for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Each of these projects is based on implementation recommendations from the original 2013 Great Streets Study.