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STAFF REPORT DATE: September 16, 1997 TO: Michael J. Mornson, City Manager FROM: Kim Moore-Sykes, Management Assistant ITEM: Proposed Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance RE: Schools, Churches, Temples and Synagogues. 1,197- oa$ Attached is a copy of the proposed amendment to Chapter 16, Zoning and Land Use, Section 1615 - R-1, Single Family District, regarding schools, churches, temples and synagogues. The issue that has caused this proposed amendment is that churches, temples and synagogues has come about because of a request by a local church to be allowed to proceed with a construction project. Churches, temples and synagogues are permitted conditional uses for the R-1 District, but cannot possibly adhere to the lot coverage and parking restrictions of this zoning district. • In fact, of the three other churches that I spoke with, all exceed the 35% lot coverage currently and two of the four churches have to park on the adjacent residential streets. The other two churches, one states they have enough parking and the other uses the City Hall parking lot for overflow parking. When I asked the City Attorney about trying to accommodate the variance request, he stated that it is really not practical to try to fit this use into a strict,adherence to the R-1 zoning and it could be challenged legally. If the City succeeded in granting these variances, it would set a precedent that would make the restrictions of this zoning district difficult to control. His advice was to amend the zoning ordinance to address only churches, temples and synagogues. I called Arden Hills, Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids and New Brighton because I knew that they had dealt with a similar situation. I also called the League of Minnesota Cities. The proposed amendment submitted for your review and consideration is a compilation of . ways cities deal with lot coverage and parking for schools, churches, temples and synagogues. Coon Rapids states that schools, churches, temples and synagogues can have a building to land ratio of up to 40% but they have to adhere to R-1 setbacks. I would propose that St. Anthony consider a similar building to land ratio between 35% and 40% and also adhering to R-1 setbacks so that the whole lot is not paved. In this way, schools, churches, temples • or synagogues would be able to install sufficient parking areas that would keep parking on- site and off residential streets, yet paving would be controlled.