HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ Minutes; 8-13-20 (Special Mtg)
City of Lake Elmo
Planning Commission Special Meeting
Minutes of Thursday August 13, 2020
Commissioner Cadenhead called to order the special meeting of the Lake Elmo Planning
Commission at 7:00 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Cadenhead, Weeks, Graen, Holtz, Mueller, Riser and Steil
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Planning Director Roberts
Approve Agenda:
M/S/P: Graen/Risner moved to approve the agenda, Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously.
Approval of Minutes:
M/S/P: Cadenhead/Steil moved to approve the Planning Commission minutes of July 27, 2020.
Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously.
Public Hearings
None
New Business
a. Carmelite Hermitage of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Request to extend the time to
start or implement the Conditions of Approval for a Conditional Use Permit (8249
Demontreville Trail)
Director Roberts explained that when the City Council approved the conditional use permit for
the chapel on the property located 8249 Demontreville Trail in August 2019 the Resolution of
approval included the following conditions of approval:
6) The applicant or owner received a building permit from the City for chapel
within 12 months of City Council approval of the conditional use permit.
7) If the applicant or owner has not taken action toward starting the chapel or if
substantial construction of the chapel has not taken place within 12 months of
the City’s approval of conditional use permit, the CUP approval shall become
void. The applicant or owner may request City council approval of a time
extension to start or implement the conditional use permit.
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 8-13-20
He explained that because of pending litigation over this matter, the Carmelites have not yet
started construction on the chapel. Roberts noted that by letter dated July 30, 2020, Rev. John
M. Burns, on behalf of the Carmelites, and in accordance with Condition 7 of the CUP, wrote the
City requesting an extension of time to start or implement the conditional use permit.
Director Roberts noted that the Planning Commission has three options with this request
including:
Denial of the requested extension.
Approval of a one-year extension as requested by the Carmelites.
Approval an extension for one year after resolution of both lawsuits.
Roberts concluded his report by explaining that staff was recommending approval of a time
extension of the CUP to give the applicant one after the date of the lawsuit to resolve last to start
the chapel or, if substantial construction of the chapel has not taken place, the substantially
construct the chapel.
The Commission then discussed the time-extension request. Rev. John Burns, representing the
Carmelites, was present and provided comments about the status of the pending lawsuits.
M/S/P: Steil/Holtz moved the staff recommendation as written in the staff report:
“Moved to recommend approval of the extension of the CUP, Resolution 2019-059, to provide
an extension of Condition No. 7 and allow the Permit Holder to have one year after the date of
the lawsuit to resolve last (either Jesuit Retreat House v. City of Lake Elmo, A20-0847 or Jesuit
Retreat House v. Discalced Carmelite Nuns of St. Paul and Carmel of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
82-CV-19-4008) to start the chapel or, if substantial construction of the chapel has not taken
place, to substantially construct the chapel.”
Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously.
Staff and Commission Updates
Roberts reported that at the August 4, 2020 City Council Meeting the Council reviewed and
approved the update to the City fence code as recommended by the Planning Commission.
Director Roberts reminded the Commission of the upcoming PC Meetings on August 24, 2020
and on September 14, 2020.
Meeting adjourned at 7:11 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Ken Roberts – Lake Elmo Planning Director
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 8-13-20