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proposed - addition in a manner which might be more acceptable to the <br /> neighbors . He assured the proponents that it was not his intention <br /> • to redesign the addition, but that he was rather seeking ways of <br /> avoiding a "win/lose" solution to the impasse. <br /> The Councilman indicated he perceives the church ' s relationship with <br /> - its neighbors had become the crux of the problem. <br /> Mr. Jones responded by saying he believed some of the Commission reaction <br /> . to the- proposal had been exaggerated and cited the statement that "the <br /> church wall- would be 38 feet high, " where in reality , "the addition <br /> would have only a ten foot wall with a sloping roof which could be <br /> constructed on a grade no more than 7 or 8 feet higher than the <br /> neighbor 's property" . The church official said that during the August <br /> 4th meeting with the residents along 36th Avenue, he had sensed some <br /> of them would oppose any expansion of the existing church building <br /> whatsoever, which "would be the same as telling us we can' t build on <br /> our own property at all" . He then drew the Council 's attention to <br /> Commissioner Bowerman ' s admission in the minutes that even shorter <br /> sideyard setbacks, including those for his own home, are not uncommon <br /> in the City. <br /> Councilman Enrooth told him the City Ordinance deals with church <br /> buildings as conditionally permitted uses in a residential district <br /> because it is the accepted philosophy that rights of residents must <br /> be considered to take precedent over non-residential structures in the <br /> same district- and the permit gives the City some leeway in setting <br /> conditions for --approval which make the -non-residential buildings- more- <br /> acceptable to the adjoining home owners . The Councilman wondered <br /> whether the church officials had listened carefully to .what Commission <br /> members and the residents were telling them were their concerns about <br /> possible- harmful effects the proposed building might have on their <br /> neighbors ' use of their backyards and property values . <br /> Mayor .Sundland indicated he agreed with Councilman Marks that a "push <br /> and shove" situation should be avoided, if possible, and asked the <br /> proponents if they could see any possible alternatives for constructing <br /> the building which could be negotiated with their neighbors , with, of <br /> course , some compromise on both sides . Reverend Joseph O. Valtinson, <br /> pastor of Elmwood, told him the neighborhood opposition to the addi- <br /> tion had not been expected and he reiterated that some of the partici- <br /> pants in the August 4th meeting had even opposed the suggestion for <br /> expanding to the front of the church. The minister said the church 's <br /> position is a difficult one because the rapid growth of the congrega- <br /> tion the last few years had made the proposed addition necessary and <br /> indicated he could foresee no other way of constructing it, perceiving <br /> the 15 foot sideyard setback to be essential to the plan. He asked, <br /> . "who -will -decide the issue, the City or the residents?" . However, . <br /> "as a 'Christian minister" , Reverend Valtinson indicated he. wanted to <br /> be reconciled with his neighbors and said- he would be happy to follow <br /> .-any.,_directions. the-City could give, him as long as they would--,"achieve <br /> the church' s objectives without developing 15 different costly plans <br /> • to- get. there" . <br />