CC MINUTES 01091996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes • January 9, 1996 Page 2 1 VII. REPORTS. 2 A. Planning Commission- December 19, 1995. 3 1. . Solid Rock Church, at Apache Plaza Conditional Use Permit. 4 Commissioner Makowske reported there were two items that were discussed at the 5 December 19, 1995 Planning Commission meeting. One was a concept review regarding 6 locating CUB Foods in Apache Plaza. The second was a conditional use permit request 7 from the Solid Rock Church. This request was to allow the Solid Rock Church to locate 8 in the Apache Mall across the corridor and north of Apache Wells Sports Bar and 9 Restaurant. Solid Rock Church is currently located in Elk River and desires to have a 10 branch closer to the City so more of its members would be able to attend the Saturday 11 night services. Makowske noted there are four conditions necessary to grant a 12 conditional use permit. One condition is that the use must be compatible with other uses 13 in the area. The Planning Commission felt a church was not compatible to any of the 14 retail businesses that are currently doing business in Apache Plaza. The City Attorney 15 was also of this opinion. Makowske reported the Planning Commission voted 16 unanimously to deny the application for the conditional use permit. 17 Terese Reiling, Welsh Companies, Inc., stated she had worked with the Solid Rock 4R Church to negotiate the lease term. She explained that Apache Plaza is currently 70% vacant. Due to this and the possible redevelopment planned for Apache Plaza, First Bank 20 considered entering into a short term lease. She explained the Solid Rock Church is 21 currently located in Elk River and is interested in the possibility of eventually purchasing 22 a building in the community for a long term basis. She stated a short term lease would 23 afford First Bank some minor economic relief while they work on the redevelopment 24 project. She stated she did not feel a precedent would be set as it was rare that a property 25 would reach the level of degradation that Apache Plaza has reached. Within one year, the 26 center was likely to have only five tenants left. 27 Mayor Ranallo stated if the Church were allowed as a compatible use the City would not 28 be able to support the non-compatibility issue if an undesirable business asked to locate 29 in the center. 30 Ms. Reiling stated it would not be in First Bank's best interest to bring forth a situation 31 that would negatively affect the other tenants in the center. The church will be taking a 32 degraded space and repairing it because they have the capitol and are looking for a short 33 term lease. Most businesses would not be able to afford to do this. 34 Assistant Pastor Bill King, Solid Rock Church stated the church has been located in Elk 35 River for 25 years. He noted he realized the City was fair minded and would give due consideration to the application as well as to the entire City's interest. He was pleased to 10 hear the objection raised to the conditional use permit was singular in nature. He stated 38 he felt he could satisfy the concerns regarding the single objection. He felt the church