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Planning & Zoning Board <br />November 12, 2003 <br />Page 9 <br />APPROVED MINUTES <br />Chair Schaps asked would the 3.2 acres of ma de a difference to the Environmental Board. <br />Ms. Grundhofer stated that would not have ma de a difference because the Environmental <br />Board had many other concerns as well. <br />Chair Schaps asked if the Environmental Boar d had discussed what in their view would <br />be a better project. Ms. Grundhofer re plied they had not discussed this. <br />Chair Schaps noted that to think nothing w ould happen with this property was unrealistic <br />and he was not sure the residents would ag ree with any development that was good for <br />the use of this land. Ms. Grundhofer replied th ey were not asking for this property not to <br />be developed, but this proposed development might not be the best use for this site. <br />Chair Schaps stated professionals had their reputation on the line a nd he did not believe <br />they would give inaccurate information. <br />Greg Stull, 1537 Sherman Lake Road, liaison between the residents and the church, <br />stated this would never have gotten designed as sensitive as it was unless the residents <br />got involved. He indicated this was very difficult for the neighborhood. He indicated <br />this had gotten to the point where it could only come with type of dialogue with the <br />neighbors and he did not believe any other de veloper would have been as concerned as <br />the church was. He stated nobody wanted cha nge, but this developer was being sensitive <br />to the environment and neighbors and they we re only doing this because they wanted to <br />be a good neighbor to the residents. He stated a large neighborhood meeting had been <br />held on November 3, and on an individual basi s, they went door to door and spoke to the <br />people who were home and left information. He indicated the residents’ comments were <br />given to the Church. <br />Mr. Tralle asked about the added growth the Church was looking at in the future. Ms. <br />Leonidas replied this was something that wa s dealt with at the EAW and this had been <br />taken into account. She noted within the f ootprint of the churc h, it could accommodate <br />an additional 700 seats. She stated when this expansion took place, they would need <br />additional classrooms, in addition to additional parking needs. <br />Mr. Tralle asked with all that they needed to do with the 90 plus acres that were added <br />costs, plus the traffic consid eration, why this site? Mr. St ull replied the church did not <br />seek the site out, the seller sought the church out, which started the ball rolling. He noted <br />this was a beautiful site for a church. He stated no other site was considered and where <br />the church was located at the present tim e in Hugo, was no longer adequate for their <br />needs. <br />Ms. Leonidas corrected Mr. Stull’s statem ent to indicated the church had done an <br />exhaustive search, but a member of the c hurch, who was the former owner of the land, <br />had offered the land to the church. She stated this piece of property fit their needs and it <br />was a wonderful site. <br />Mr. Rafferty asked what was the Master Plan for this site. Ms. Leonidas replied there <br />was no Master Plan for this site, but she coul d say that the existing facility in Hugo would <br />continue to be a major focus for them and the administrative offices would stay in Hugo.