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Home My WebLink AboutPL MINUTES 01031984 Meeting Sheet `s A 101937 -r 'f Box: 21 Folder:'PL MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1984 Document: PL MINUTES 01031984 ,t �.n S { 5 "1 J 1 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES January 3, 1984 The special meeting of the Planning Commission called by the City Council to review and give . a recommendation on the revised site plans for a Conditional Use Permit for the proposed expansion of the Elmwood Lutheran Church at 3615 Chelmsford Road was called to order by Chair Pro Tem Zawislak at 7: 30 P.M. Present for roll call : Zawislak, Bowerman, Bjorklund, Wagner , and Franzese. Absent: Jones . Also present: David Childs , City Manager; and Councilman-elect Makowske, who was an observer and not a participant. On August 16, 1983, the Commission had recommended denial of the original Elmwood request fora 75 foot addition to the existing church structure because of objections of the neighbors to the size of the proposed expansion and its proximity to the abutting residences . In his December 28 memorandum to the Commissioners setting up the special meeting, Mr. Childs had advised them that , because major changes had been made in the church' s proposal and hei, neighbors ' concerns had been resolved, the Council had decided there was justification for returning the request for a Conditional Use Permit to the Commission for further consideration prior to final action by the Council January 10 . The Manager had attached to his memorandum the revised site plans for the main floor and basement addition which had reduced the extension to the existing sanctuary to 15 feet and had moved the classroom addition back 57 feet from the property line. The new plans were identified as Exhibit A by Commissioner Bjorklund. Mr. Childs indicated staff had recommended approval of the revised proposal perceiving no major neighbor concerns remained unresolved after the meetings of church and neighbor representatives , which he had attended. He reported the church officials had agreed to provide low maintenance type landscaping on the south side of the building to alleviate the problem of mowing the steep embankment which separates the church property from the residential backyards on that side- and to soften the impact of the church building on those abutting properties . Elmwood representatives had also agreed not to extend the sactuary any further east or west anytime in the future , the Manager said. Dick Jones, 5157 6th Street N. E. , an Elmwood trustee and chairman of the church' s building committee , reported that , after the project architect had 'explained to the neighbors that the balcony addition they had suggested would not e--structurally feasible, they had indicated a willingness to .c-erpt the proposed 15 foot extension of the sanctuary as long as ' - 2 - they could be certain the total length of the sanctuary would eace,.ed— 77 feet. Mr . Jones said the architect would be • g up-_.t-he landscaping plans. . to improve the slope of the land and to prevent water runoff on the abutting neighbors ' properties which would be presented for neighbor approval sometime in the spring . He hoped these plantings could be worked into the existing shrubberies which now separate the church parking lots from the adjacent park property north of the existing church structure-. The church spokesperson indicated he believes "the church is now on good terms with its neighbors ." Larry and Sandy Antczak whose property at 3501 36th Avenue. N.E. , was the most affected by the proposed addition, were present and Mr. Antczak told the Commission members that although he was not altogether happy to have the sanctuary extended i5 feet further toward his property, he and his wife had been willing to compromise that point to get that addition reduced and the other addition moved back, but he was still concerned that the overhang on the proposed addition not be more than ten inches to alleviate the runoff on his. property.. Mr . Jones said he would instruct the architect to make these changes to the extent they are feasible. Both Mr. Antczak and Donald Esau, 3505 36th Avenue. N.E. thanked the Planning Commission and Council for understanding their concerns about the first proposal made by the church which they believed would have adversely affected their use o.f' their own backyards . Although he still believed the sanctuary extension to be, app opriate , Mr. Esau said he would support qtr. Antczak' s acceptance of that extension as long as the landscaping is pro- vided as agreed to by the church officials. He reiterated that he appreciated the Mayor' s efforts and the time spent by both Council and Commission which had ultimately led to .the resolution of differences between the parties and Mr . Esau indicated he per- ceived this was an instance where "the democratic process had certainly worked" , and he' believed the channels of communication had been opened to such an extent that the church and neighbors would be able to work out any future problems without coming to the Council . Reverend Joseph 0. Valtinson,' the Elmwood pastor, told the Commission members he believed he "had been blessed by having the conflicts resolved in a .friendly manner , since after all , that is the church' s purpose." Erling Weiberg, 3409 36th Avenue N.E. , who had presented the con- cerns of the neighbors from the first hearing , attributed the utilization of the "good offices of the Mayor" as a deciding fac- tor in "getting the job done" , especially his insistence that a neutral party (the Manager) chair the final discussion between the church and neighbors . The Chair Pro Tem agreed that Mr. Childs ' presence during the negotiations and the fact that all the participants had come into the negotiations with open minds , ad made the final resolution of differences possible. - 3 - Motion by Commissioner Bjorklund and seconded by Commissioner ren ta_.-r__ecommend Council approval of the Conditional Use 0-7��t f6r the Elmwood Lutheran Church which would allow the expansion of the existing sanctuary and the kitchen/fellowship hall. areas as specifically indicated on the revised site plans for the project, marked as Exhibit A, finding that : l . . There had 'been significant public input from the abutting property owners , the neighbors down the block, and representatives of the church. 2 . Both the neighbors and the church representatives had agreed the revised proposal now adequately represented their interests. 3. The proposed 15 foot extension to the sanctuary and the 57 foot setback for the kitchen/fellowship hall addition are- now , perceived to minimize the proximity of the existing church to the abutting backyards of the single family residences . along 36th Avenue N.E. , thereby avoiding further aggravation of an already potentially detrimental condition and resulting in an acceptable conditional use in that single family neighborhood. The Commission further stipulates that this permit request be granted only on the following conditions : a. That the church provide landscaping, including shrubbery, which would eliminate the necessity of mowing the grass on the •_,�mr ankmerit, b. take the necessary steps to prevent potentially damaging runoff from the church building onto neighbors ' property-, . C. agree that the proposed sanctuary should not be extended either east or west at any time in the future. Before a vote was taken, Commission Bowerman indicated he was concerned with foreclosing any possibility for further expansion of the sanctuary since he could envision that sometime in the distant future the church might acquire the abutting properties for such an expansion. Mr. Weilberg told him that the greatest concern of both the Antc.zak and -Esau families was that no future owners of their properties would have to experience what they had with the first proposal . When Mr —Childs reminded him that future Councils would not .necessarily be bound by the conditions if cir- cumstances should change , as they had since the existing church building had been constructed at a time when there were no abutting single family residences where the Antczak' s ar-d Esau' s -homes are now, the Commission consensus was the the wording of the last condition should be expanded to include "unless there is positive agreement with such expansion by the owners of the abutting prop- erties" . amended motion carried unanimously. ` - 4 - The Manager reported that the City Attorney was still conferring e )T11bon' s legal representative regarding the City' s MOW a�t�ion.Jhat the Walbon property along Highway 8 is being utilized in a manner which violates the zoning of that property, and he agreed to contact Central Engineering regarding clearning up their property. Mr. Childs reported there had been two applicants besides Mr. Jones for the two openings on the Planning Commission which would be filled by the Council January 10 . He reported several matters he anticipates would be on the Commission agenda for their next regularly scheduled meeting, January 17. Commissioners Zawislak and Franzese commended the Manager for the part he played in negotiating the differences between the church and neighbors related to the Elmwood expansion request and the former agreed to present the Commission' s recommendation of approval to the Council January 10 . Motion by Commissioner Bjorklund and seconded by Commissioner Bowerman to adjourn the meeting at 8: 05 P.M. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Helen Crowe , Secretary I �-