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Mounds View Planning Commission March 17, 2004 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ Planner Prososki reviewed the request indicating that Bethlehem Baptist Church has requested an amendment to the Building N PUD to add religious institution as a permitted use. The Church has a signed purchase agreement with Michael Investments, the current owner of Building N and that purchase agreement is contingent upon City approval for the amendment to the PUD. Planner Prososki indicated that no formal PUD agreement exists but using Staff reports and other records Staff was able to determine that the PUD ws to be used as office/flex space with possible uses being office, laboratory, production, high tech assembly or storage uses. Planner Prososki indicated that the Zoning Code allows religious institutions as conditional uses in residential districts but there are seven criteria that a church must meet to obtain the permit. She then indicated that the same criteria should be reviewed and evaluated for a religious use in any district. Planner Prososki reviewed the potential proposed changes to the building and noted that the Church would only have to go through development review if they choose to expand Building N by more than 10% and further clarified that no development review is required for interior modification or exterior modification within 10%. Sam Crabtree, Executive Pastor for Bethlehem Baptist Church addressed the Commission and indicated he has responsibility for ministerial functions as well as administrative responsibilities for the 60 or so employees that they have. He then provided a review of services that the Church offers to the community noting that a church may not be good for tax revenue but there are programs and ministries that are good for the neighborhood. Jon Grano, a resident of New Brighton and Elder at Bethlehem addressed the Commission and indicated that he is excited for what the church can do for the community. Paul Sentman indicated that he is an Elder at Bethlehem, lives in White Bear Lake and is pleased to hear that the Church is coming closer. He then said that he is a real estate developer and based on his experience, he feels that another church in the community will enhance the other churches not compete with them. Mitch Pierson, an Elder at Bethlehem and part of the steering committee on what to do with the growth downtown indicated that they have come to a point where any further growth in that location would affect the neighborhood negatively and that is why they are looking to go north. He then said that 800 of their members are from the north side of the city. Dan Holst thanked the Commission for its time and indicated he is a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines and works part time at Bethlehem as a worship leader at the north chapter. He then said that he would most likely be one of the six or seven people that will office at this location full time. Mr. Holst indicated that he and his wife have four children ranging in age from 17 years to seven months and they moved from the country to the city to be a part of neighborhood ministry in the urban core. He then said that he would move his family to Mounds View should the church be