05/22/2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MAY 22, 2002 EAGLE BROOK CHURCH UPDATE, BWBR ARCHITECTS, JEFF SMYSER City Planner Smyser stated Eagle Brook Church is interested in building a church on 20th Avenue. He referred to a map pointing out the exact location of the site. The area is zoned rural guided for long term single family homes and divided by stage 1 and stage 2 growth. The church is compatible with the zoning because churches are conditional uses. Staff has not yet received a formal application. The neighbors in the area have clearly stated they are opposed to the church and have submitted a petition for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW). Staff can not determine if an EAW is necessary and can not make a recommendation because an application has not been submitted. The church has determined they will voluntarily do an EAW. Ms. Kathryn Leonidas, BWBR Architects, stated the goal this evening is to let the Council know where the church is in the process, provide i ation and hear the City's concerns. Mr. Scott Anderson, Eagle Brook Church, gave the back e church noting they have been around for 50 years. Eagle Brook has been a c ent location in White Bear Lake since 1972 and has expanded five times.'e nig approximately 4,000 members that attend the church on a weekend. P . f e dilemma is the church is currently on a limited site and traffic is a proble urch started to look at relocating two years ago and want at least 60 a the new location. The site was finally narrowed down to the site in Lino L J r plans do not include a school or low income housing. Ms. Leonidas stated they are in the s ®hems s esign phase at this time and would like to begin construction next spring. S - . ®Pout the property on a map, noting the most appropriate building site. She r rre o plan pointing out the area for parking and the opportunities for future gro T e>- c ent plan calls for a 2,100 worship place plus classrooms with the pos of 7 r fore seats within the original building. She stated they are asking for limite . ` eca se traffic is a huge problem and the plan will control traffic by including'` rculation on the property, traffic control devices and a left turn lane on Hwy. 21. She n ed the parking to building ratio is much larger than what is required. Mr. Anderson stated the church currently has Saturday service at 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday services are at 9:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The church is adding a Sunday evening service but will likely go down to three services in the new location. Traffic back up is usually for about a ten minute period between services. Councilmember Reinert stated the key to neutralizing neighborhood opposition might be education. Councilmember Carlson stated she is concerned about what might be added to the property at some time in the future.