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By Carol Arnett

The Florissant City Council voted to allow Imperial Crown Pet Cemetery to expand, but not before extensive discussion.

At issue was not the expansion itself, but what procedure to take regarding the zoning of the property.

The 2.6 acre cemetery, near the intersection of Lindbergh and Charbonier, shares a parking lot with Batteries Plus on Lindbergh. It stretches back towards apartments on Rosetta Drive. The Friend of Imperial Crown Pet Cemetery recently purchased an additional two acres to the south of the property in hopes of expanding. The two acres are landlocked, with access only through the cemetery or other adjoining businesses.

The cemetery was founded in 1924 by Dr. Charles Bauer, a veterinarian whose clinic was nearby. It is the only pet cemetery in North County. In 2002, the cemetery was officially made a Florissant Historical Landmark by the Florissant City Council. It is the oldest pet cemetery in the St. Louis area.

In 1991, the Friends of Imperial Crown Pet Cemetery bought the cemetery. It has been managed since then by Rose Darnell.

The existing cemetery is zoned residential. It was grandfathered in as a special use when the city was incorporated. The additional two acres is also zoned residential. Darnell has come before the city with a request to expand the special use permit to the new property.

Some council members objected to the special use permit. Some council members do not want special use permits in residential zoning.

“I don’t think there are any people on the council opposed to the cemetery,” said Councilman Pat Stinnett.

“The concern I have is with the procedures we are trying to use to make this happen,” Stinnett continues. He noted that the special use permit has not been used in residential zoning.

“I’m concerned we will open the floodgates to special use requests,” Stinnett said.

Councilman John Grib agreed with Stinnett. “I’m not opposed to the expansion, just how it’s done,” he said. “We need to carefully consider repercussions of amending the zoning code to allow special uses.

Grib noted that he and Councilman Tim Lee had previously suggested rezoning the area to a commercial zoning and requesting a variance from the Board of Adjustment for the cemetery.

Councilman Joe Eagan disagreed. “The people who came before us on the council were wise, but they couldn’t anticipate every situation. This cemetery is a very unique situation. The cemetery want to expand, and the neighbors want this,” he said.

Rose Darnell, the manager of the cemetery, spoke to the council. “It’s been a long seven months,” she said, since the cemetery began the expansion. As far as the property in question, she said, “no one lives on it, no one is going to live on it.” Darnell said she had cooperated fully with the city every step of the way. “It’s been a long road and it’s time for it so end,” she said.

The council voted to approve the special use permit, with Councilman Keith Schildroth joining Stinnett, Lee and Grib in voting no.

After the meeting, Darnell said she wasn’t sure when the new area would be ready for burials. She said the next step was to clear out the property. “There are 40 feet of brush, trees, and poison ivy,” she said.

In other action, the council:

Passed a bill appropriating funds for repair of parking lots and driveways in several parks.

Passed a bill allowing the remodel of the Dairy Queen at 300 Howdershell.

Held a first reading on a bill appropriating funds for the installation of a Frisbee golf course at Dunegant Park.

Approved a request to transfer a special use permit from Joe’s Pub to Bottom’s Up Sports Bar for the operation of a tavern at 490 St Francois

Approved a request by Erin and Michele Neuner to keep three Ancona Ducks at their home on Deborah Drive.

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