Cardinals Doc Expects Dispensation By Chesterfield City Council

Chesterfield's City Council is expected to vote Monday night on changes that would allow the team doctor for the St. Louis Cardinals to expand his office surgery hours into overnight stays.

Limited to no more than a 72-hour stay, Dr. George Paletta, told city planners in May that technology has changed, so that more procedures may be done on an out-patient basis.

At one point, the city planning commission questioned the overnight stay proposal in detail, and then passed the decision along to City Council.

Paletta said he primarily repairs torn ligaments of the leg, shoulder and arm. There are 10 people in the practice.

A pair of buildings for the practice would be at the intersection of Highway 40 and Boones Crossing exit, north side. Construction was approved in 2008 for a second building.

According to a Chesterfield Patch reading of the proposal, Paletta would owe a tax of $1,835.75 per parking stall for the overnight priviledge—based on 5 percent of the square footage used for overnight stays.

Estimates were put at 5-7 patients per week may stay overnight.

An additional change expected to be voted on would allow for an awning structure over one of the front doors, facing Highway 40.

A final vote or "second reading" of the changes is scheduled for August 20, at the next city council meeting.

August 6 is the first reading of the proposals, and it passed unanimously 7-0.

Councilman Matt Segal was absent.