Board of Adjustment

The Board of Adjustment is responsible for hearing all appeals on matters related to decisions by any administrative official in enforcement of the City's Zoning and Subdivision Codes.

Applications for appeal to the Board of Adjustment may be found on the Forms and Applications page. Meetings are held the second Monday of each month (as needed) at 7:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers, 8425 Airport Road, Berkeley, Missouri 63134-2098.

Board of Adjustment

Chairperson

• Lisa Evans

Co-Chairperson

• Gary Grotegeers                                                                                    

Commission Members

• Charles Gholson
• Richard Schmitt
• Thelma Wiley

Alternates

• Vacant
• Vacant
• Vacant

Council Representative

• Councilman-at-Large Ralph McDaniel

Want To Be More Involved?

There are currently three alternate positions open on the Board of Adjustment. If you would like to be considered for one of these positions, please contact the Community Development Department or your Councilperson for more information.

Comprehensive Plan

2009 Comprehensive Plan is available on-line

The 2009 Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the Planning and Zoning Commission and an electronic version may be obtained by following the link below.

2009 Comprehensive Plan - Follow this link to view an electronic version of the Plan (This file may take a few minutes to download).

Comprehensive Plan Updates

The city anticipates updates to the comprehensive plan in 2023.  Contact Elliott Liebson at 314-400-3705 or eliebson@ci.berkeley.mo.us for more details. 

In addition to the Comprehensive Plan, the Community Development Department has begun to undertake more detailed level surveys and is currently studying the Airport Road Corridor and the Frost Avenue Corridor for consideration of potential future projects such as streetscape enhancements and other projects to enhance these vital corridors within the community.  The Department has developed several graphics that represent analysis of existing conditions and conceptual drawings that look to address the needs of both corridors.

Follow the links provided below to access these conceptual drawings.

• Airport Road Existing Conditions
• Airport Road Planning Considerations
• Frost Avenue Existing Conditions
• Frost Avenue Planning Considerations
• Berkeley Station Concept Plan
• Berkeley Zoning Map 2011
• St. Louis Regional Sustainable Communities Meeting

For more information regarding the 2009 Comprehensive Plan or to become involved please contact the Department of Community Development.

Development Opportunities

NorthPark's 550-acre office, retail and industrial space offers a mixed-use development with a blend of urban accessibility and suburban amenities.

This St. Louis development is the ideal location for a Midwest development with build-to-suit capabilities. NorthPark is the only urban redevelopment project in the country located between the intersection of two major highways, an international airport and a renowned university.

This location provides increased urban accessibility with easy access to major regional transportation paths including:

• Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
• Interstates 70, 170, and 270
• A multitude of U.S. Highways, Missouri State Highways and St. Louis County arterial Roads
• Two MetroLink (light rail) stations

NorthPark is located immediately east of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport at the northeast quadrant of the Interstate 70/170 interchange.  North Hanley Road (a multi-lane St. Louis County areterial street) runs through the center of the development. This level of urban accessibility paired with suburban comforts such as retail, day care and health clubs, creates the perfect environment to work, live and play. Nestled within the boundaries of the development is a Ramona Lake Park complete with a fishing pond, picnic area and playground. Future suburban amenities within NorthPark will include retail stores, restaurants and cultural activities and experiences for tenants and visitors, as well as green space and walking/biking trails created by the Great Rivers Greenway District.                           

For more information on the advantages of NorthPark Click Here.

Available Commercial/Industrial Properties

20,000 Sq. Ft Warehouse - For Sale or Lease 4679 World Parkway For More Information, Contact Sansone Group

Property Highlights Size: 20,000 sq. ft. Lot Size: 1.5 acres Single story masonry/re-engineered steel construction Constructed in 1989

20,412 Sq. Ft. Office/Warehouse - For Sale 4645 La Guardia Drive For More Information, Contact NAI Desco

Property Highlights Size: 20,412 Sq. Ft. Lot Size: 1.84 acres Single story masonry construction 80% office finish Constructed in 1988 16' ceilings 65 car parking

Fire Suppression

The Fire Department is equipped with a 55 foot aerial ladder truck and two rescue pumpers. It is completely equipped with the very latest tools and technology to assist the firefighters in bringing any fire under control in the shortest period of time.

The firefighters spend many hours each year training with the equipment in order to maintain their skills at the highest level possible in order ti save lives and protect property.

For more information, contact us at (314) 524-3313 ex. 2046

Meet the Team!

Debra Irvin

Building Commissioner

irvin@ci.berkeley.mo.us

(314) 400-3705

Lisa Wells

Permit Technician

Wells@ci.berkeley.mo.us

(314) 400-3713 – Scheduling

Isaac Johnson

Code Enforcement Officer/Housing Inspector

johnson@ci.berkeley.mo.us

(314) 400-3710

Mike Maloney

Multi-Discipline Inspector

MikeMaloney@ci.berkeley.mo.us  

(314) 400-3708

Tynia Mitchell

Code Enforcement Officer/Housing Inspector

MitchellT@ci.berkeley.mo.us

(314) 400-3709

Plan Review

Review of commercial plans is a key factor in providing life safety and property protection before construction of new buildings or additions to existing buildings.

The department ensures that the plans comply with the fire codes and that built-in protection systems such as sprinkler systems and fire alarms are installed where required.

For more information, contact us at (314) 524-3313 ex. 2046

Planning and Zoning Commission

The Planning and Zoning Commission is responsible for the initial review of all rezonings, Special Use Permits, resubdivision/subdivision approvals, and site plans submitted for development projects within the City of Berkeley.

The Forms and Applications page has downloadable files of the Planning and Zoning Application as well as instructions for submittal to the Department of Community Development for review. The City of Berkeley Official Zoning Map is also available.

Once the Planning and Zoning Application, associated fees, and supporting material are submitted, Economic Development Staff will review the application and make a recommendation to the Planning and Zoning Commission at the next available meeting. Staff and Commission recommendations are then forwarded to the City Council for a Public Hearing and disposition of the proposed project.

Please note that the application process requires several meetings, reviews, and published notifications prior to approval. Depending on the complexity of the project, review and scheduling requirements may take several months.

Planning and Zoning Commission meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 1:00pm via zoom.

Planning and Zoning Commission

Chairman:

• Kevin Spraggins

Commission Members:

• Carolyn Crimes
• Danita Neal
• DeBora Y. White

Council Representative:

• Babatunde Deinbo 

Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines

NOTE: All dates subject to change

*  Application deadlines apply to all rezoning, Special Use Permit, Site Plan, and other applications subject to review by Planning and Zoning Commission (Please see submittal deadlines above).

** Planning Commission meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Details and the link to join will be posted on the city website.

*** City Council meets on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Anticipated city council action subject to approval by the planning and zoning commission and adequate time to post public hearing notices.  

Programs

• Fire Prevention - Free Smoke Detectors; Free Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Youth Mentor Program
• Building Inspections
• Fire Hydrant Inspections

Public Education

The people least able to care for themselves are those most susceptible to the consequences of fire. Therefore, the Fire Department has made itself available to all the schools in the City to teach the very young how to be careful with anything that will cause a fire.

Department representatives also educate the children on what to do and not to do in the case of a fire.

For more information about public education, contact us at (314) 524-3313 x 2046.

Buying a Used Child Safety Seat is Not Such a Safe Idea!!!!

Safety advocates do NOT recommend buying used child safety seats. There is no guarantee for safety, when purchasing a used car seat at a garage sale, flea market or a thrift store. There is no way of knowing if these seats have been in a crash and if they had received damage that can't be seen with the naked eye.

Your child's safety seat may NOT be safe if:

•  it has been in a crash
•  it has missing parts
• it has no labels or stickers (that shows the expiration date) 
• it is over 6 years old
• it is not used properly
• it is on a recall list

Members of the City of Berkeley Fire Department have attended 40-hours of training to become certified Child Safety Car Seat installers. This department, in conjunction with St. Louis County Health Department, who furnishes the car seats, has free car seats available for installation. For more information, to have your current child safety seat checked or to make an appointment to have a new child safety car set install, contact the Fire Department at 314-264-2046.

Mentoring Program

The City of Berkeley Fire Department recently completed our sixth (6th) year of participation in an eight (8) week course in conjunction with St. Louis County Family Courts (formerly the Juvenile Court) known as the Mentoring program.

The program’s goal is to instill “Trust”, “Team Work” and “Self Confidence. During the eight (8) week program, one day a week the boys and girls were taught various respects of the Fire Fighters job, such as, Search & Rescue and Vehicle Extrication, Basic First Aid and CPR. The eight (8) week program was set up as a mini fire academy; teaching some basic firefighting and safety skills, while providing a positive role models.

The Mentoring Program was created in January of 1993 with a grant from the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. Initially, the Program focused on male, African-American youth in need of Mentors. In July of 1994, the Program was placed under the auspices of the Human Resources Department and evolved to include youth male and female (age 13-16 years) referred to the Court.

This program is geared to facilitate positive new behaviors and attitudes within our youth. Provides delinquent youth with guidance and support. Gives fire department personnel the opportunity to positively impact the juvenile in the justice system.

Initially, the Program was funded by a grant from the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. In 1995, the Family Court of St. Louis County began to analyze other funding opportunities including foundation grants and individual donations.

Fire Extinguisher Training Program

Comprehensive fire extinguisher training programs create a safer workplace. As many are well aware, OSHA requires that employees be educated in the use of fire extinguishers. Specifically, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157(g) states: "Where the employer has provided portable fire extinguishers for employee use in the workplace, the employer shall also provide an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting."

While offering fire extinguisher education to your employees ensures regulatory compliance, there are also a number of important reasons why a comprehensive fire extinguisher training program should be a central element of any complete work safety regimen. Fires have a nearly unmatched potential for loss of property and loss of life. Nationwide, fires account for more than $10 billion in property loss each year and result in more deaths than all natural disasters combined.

The City of Berkeley Fire Department currently offers Fire Extinguisher Training to all local business and organizations. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us at 314-524-3313, ext. 2046.

Services

Provide Protection

Protection to the residents and business owners/employees is provided in the form of high visibility by uniformed patrol officers in marked patrol vehicles throughout the City of Berkeley in anticipation and expectation of preventing and deterring criminal activity. In some instances, non-uniform officers in unmarked vehicles are utilized to detect illegal activity and apprehend those responsible. During the summer months, our bicycle patrol unit is activated and patrols throughout the city, too include, area neighborhoods, business areas and our City parks.

Services and Assistance

There are a variety of programs available depending on the particular service and/or assistance that are to be rendered. For citizenry, the Department practices, “Community Oriented Policing, (COPS)”, “Drug Abuse Resistance Education, (DARE)”, “Safety Through Effective Patrol, (STEPS) and our “Neighbor Watch Program”. For businesses throughout the community the Department has the “Night Eyes Program”, which provides information to business owners on incidences of insecure structures and identifiable concerns the owners may not be aware of.  Additionally, the Department, along with other City Departments has instituted the “Save Our Streets Team, (SOS)”, which utilizes all resources within the City to identify and rectify problem issues within our community. The Department continues to participate in safety talks to school children, various parades and public events.

Investigation of Crimes

Investigative work includes delving and probing into all aspects of suspected criminal activity. The uniformed division is responsible for the initial investigation of all criminal activity. If the initial responding officer unable to complete the investigation, the case is forwarded to the Bureau of Investigations, which is composed of a Detective Captain and five (4) Investigators. These officers report directly to the Bureau Commander who reports to the Chief of Police.  Their primary task is to scrutinize statements and evidence, research circumstances surrounding the crime and to make appropriate inquiries. Additionally, the investigators are required to perform background checks on law enforcement employment applications, probes or liquor and merchant license applications and general investigative duties required for law enforcement purposes.

Maintaining Law and Order

This occurs when officers enforce the dictates of State Statutes and City Ordinances without prejudice. Law enforcement activities include, but are not limited to, minimizing crimes in progress, arresting persons suspected of criminal activity, proper booking and processing of those accused, applying for and obtaining warrants through the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and when necessary, confining those suspected of the mentioned activity. Officers also participate in the court proceedings of those suspected of criminal activity for the purpose of obtaining lawful convictions. 

Sewer Inlets

Sewer Inlets are under the maintenance of MSD. If you experience water backup at the inlet on your street contact MSD immediately at (314) 768-6260

• Do not dump fallen leaves and other yard waste into the inlets, storm drains, or on creek banks.
• Clean up fallen leaves and other yard waste that reach the street to keep it out of the storm drain system.
• Use a mulching mower or a mulching blade and leave grass clippings on the lawn as fertilizer.
• Use fallen leaves as winter or summer mulch or shred them and leave them on the lawn.
• Compost your leaves, brush, grass clippings, and other yard waste.
• Do not dump grass or yard waste onto a creek bank or area where it will be washed into creeks and rivers.
• Contact your municipality or trash hauler about collecting leaves and other yard waste.
• Do not pour oil, grease, or gas products in sewers

Street Lights

Ameren Missouri has streetlights installed at every intersection and every 400 to 600 feet on streets where there are at least three (3) occupied buildings between street lights on city maintained streets. 

A Street light is also required on dead-end streets that are over 400 feet long or has at least three houses on lots facing the street. Additionally, the city may request additional street lights be installed if such lighting is needed in sharp curves that may create a safety hazard for motorist. To report a street light outage you may contact the Public Works Department (314) 400-3707 and provide the number from the utility pole. 

Street Resurfacing

The City’s goal is to resurface streets once every ten years if funding is available. The average life of a street is 12-15 years.

Patching

The city is responsible for the maintenance of city maintained/owned street. 

However, when city services such as water or sewer work requires an excavation of a city maintained street, the contractor will patch the work site.

Street Sweeping

The City employs one street sweeper to maintain the appearance of the City streets regularly scheduled routes to make a complete round of each Ward, while working to keep the curb, gutters, and storm drains clear of debris.  

Factors that may change scheduled dates in wards.

• Inclement Weather
• Breakdowns (vehicles/equipment)
• Personnel (unscheduled/scheduled time off)

Animal Control Code

Payment Options

The Traffic Violation Bureau accepts money orders, cash, cashiers check, debit/credit.

All payments can be made at 8425 Airport Rd, Berkeley, MO 63134, during normal business hours.  A drop box is available at City Hall for after hour payments.

In court we accept money order, cash cashiers check, debit/credit cards, we do not accept personal checks. 

There is a nominal fee for debit/credit card transactions.  

Payments online: Cases/tickets filed after May 13, 2019 are payable on casenet, contact the court to verify eligibility. Cases/tickets filed after May 13, 2019 are payable on ipaycourt, contact the court to verify eligibility.

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/searchCases.do

https://www.ipaycourt.com/frmCitationSearch.aspx

Traffic Violation Bureau Schedule of Fines

THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ST LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI

BERKELEY MUNICIPAL DIVISION

VIOLATIONS BUREAU SCHEDULE OF OFFENSES

Pursuant to the Missouri State Statutes, Section 479.050, revised, and Rule 37.49 of the Supreme Court Rules of State of Missouri, the undersigned Municipal Judge of Berkeley Municipal Division, hereby orders that the following offenses shall be payable to the Berkeley Municipal Traffic Violations Bureau. No court appearance is necessary unless specifically excepted as hereafter set forth:

If involved in accident MANDATORY Court Appearance

Jump to: Moving Violations | Non-Moving Violations | Ordinance Violations | Speeding Fine Schedule

SPEEDING FINE SCHEDULE FOR 1ST OFFENSES [return to top]

*SPEEDING 20MPH AND OVER IS A MANDATORY COURT APPEARANCE AND FINES MAY VARY

SO ORDERED:

Judge Danelle Duffy

September 1, 2021

Any Defendant who is 16 or 17 years of age with a moving violation must appear in court with parent or guardian.

All amounts includes fines and court costs

Senior Utility Tax Rebate

The Senior Utility Tax rebate is based upon taxes that are incurred as a result of being a resident of the City of Berkeley. To qualify for the rebate; recipient must be 60 years are older, retired, or on total disability, the three bills required are gas, water, and electric. A state ID and proof of income is required as well as proof of home ownership or a lease. The homeowner will need to show proof that taxes are current.

City Parks

The City of Berkeley’s park system consists of 13 parks totaling approximately 53.75 acres. Many of these parks have playgrounds, restrooms, athletic fields, picnic areas, and other sports and leisure amenities.

• View a map of our City parks, recreation centers and public buildings

Select one of the links below to find out more about some of our featured parks and recreation centers:

• Berkeley Municipal Pool
• Edgewood-Montgomery Park
• Frostwood Park
• Independence Park
• Jackson Park
• Civic Center
• Ramona-Mathison Lake Park
• Midwood Park
• Pocket Park

Park Rentals

Rental rates for various City parks are listed below. Select the link for specific park details.

Ramona Lake Complex

About the Lake

Civic Center Rentals

Civic Center Rental Rates

Court Information

The following is a summary of operating procedures please contact the division directly for further inquiry:

Please note our hours of operation are 8:30am to 5:00pm Mon-Fri

Court days 1st, 2nd, 3rd Thursday of each month Berkeley Division 1:00pm pm to TBD

Court days 1st, 2nd Wednesday of each month for Moline 1:00pm to TBD

• Requests for continuance must be in writing or in person at the traffic violation bureau.
• No continuances will be granted by phone.
• To obtain case information at traffic violation bureau you must have photo identification.
• If your case is continued for payment it must be paid in full by your next court date or a court appearance is required.
• If you wish to plead guilty without appearing before the Judge you may appear at the traffic violation bureau or call to determine if you pay your fines and court costs or contact the division.
• You must provide the court with your current contact information.

Court Contact Information:

8425 Airport Rd
Berkeley, MO 63134

314-524-3313

alexis@berkeleymo.us

Court Location

All Municipal Division dockets are held at 8425 Airport Rd., Berkeley, MO 63134.