HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 07-16-1997 SpecialMinutes
Special Council Meeting
July 16, 1997
A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Acting Mayor Wold
at 7:00 p.m. in the Medicine Lake Conference Room, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., on July 16,
1997.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Acting Mayor Wold; Councilmembers Preus, Spigner, Bildsoe,
Johnson, and Black.
ABSENT: Mayor Tierney.
CITY STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant Manager Lueckert, Community
Development Director Hurlburt, Public Works Director Moore, and City Clerk Ahrens.
Acting Mayor Wold explained the call of this special meeting and announced that the
purpose is to consider the request of Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church for rezoning from FRD
Future Restricted Development) to PI (Public Institutional), Site Plan Amendment for
additional parking, Conditional Use Permit for off-site parking, and five setback variances for
property at 12235 Old Rockford Road.
Community Development Director Hurlburt presented the staff report on the requests. The
Planning Commission held a public hearing on June 10 and unanimously recommends
approval. The Planning Commission recommended addition of the following conditions to
the resolution: the church will extend the fence on the east lot line along the length of the
new parking lot, and the church will look at the possibility of adding landscaping along the
east lot line. The church has agreed to this. She explained that the church is proposing to
expand the existing parking lot and provide better one-way circulation within the lot. The
expansion was approved as "proof -of -parking" in the 1982 site plan amendment. The
changes to the existing parking lot would result in a net gain of only four parking spaces.
Several parking spaces near the entrance will be removed to accommodate the new sidewalk
and a large landscaped island. Several stalls will be restriped to meet current handicapped
parking standards. There is currently only one access to the parking lot, but the church has
proposed the addition of a second entrance on Old Rockford Road.
In response to a question from Councilmember Bildsoe, Director Hurlburt explained that a
growth in church membership is the reason for the request. In 1982 the congregation was not
large enough to immediately need all the parking, so they prepared a parking plan for the
future.
Special Council Meeting
July 16, 1997
Page 2
Councilmember Johnson asked if the second driveway location was part of the original plan.
Director Hurlburt responded yes.
Jim Bjorgan, 12135 Old Rockford Road, said that he and his wife understand the need for
more parking, but they are concerned about the proposed driveway location because it will
abut their rear yard. This is an active church, and he has concerns about the amount of traffic
throughout the week. He requested that the new driveway exit be eliminated because it
would be a detriment to his property.
Councilmember Spigner asked Mr. Bjorgan if he was aware of the church's approved future
plan when it was adopted in 1982. Mr. Bjorgan said he does not specifically recall it, but he
has owned his property for 31 years.
Councilmember Johnson asked if the Bjorgans are primarily concerned with the additional
traffic or the noise that would be generated.
Mr. Bjorgan said the only current entrance/exit to the parking lot is much further west from
his property. The new driveway would be within 15 to 20 feet of his home. He is concerned
about all of the traffic exiting in this location and the potential traffic noise.
Community Development Director Hurlburt said that there is an existing fence which the
church proposes to extend.
Councilmember Spigner noted that the original fence was installed by Mr. Bjorgan. She
asked whether a higher fence would be beneficial.
Community Development Director Hurlburt said there has been no discussion of a higher
fence. The proposed fence extension would match the existing 6 foot fence. It is a distance
of 115 feet from the current driveway to the fence. It would be about 40 feet from the fence
to the proposed driveway location.
Ron Holden, 3545 Flag Avenue, New Hope, said he is the Chairman of the church building
and grounds. He said the church had 300 members when he joined and there are now over
2,600 members. He explained that one-way traffic is proposed in the parking lot for better
traffic circulation. The improvements are proposed for safety reasons and to add parking
spaces. He explained the history of improvements to the site, and said that the church is
trying to work with the abutting neighbors to resolve their concerns. The church's architects
and engineers have already done some redesign work to address concerns about lighting. The
6 foot fence will be extended to screen the lights. There is no viable alternative to moving
the driveway without losing a grove of trees and playground at the rear of the property. Also,
the grades on the property are difficult. Mr. Holden said that the parking lot improvements
should result in traffic moving in and out of the area quicker which will reduce noise.
Special Council Meeting
July 16, 1997
Page 3
Motion was made by Councilmember Spigner, seconded by Councilmember Bildsoe, to
adopt ORDINANCE 97-14 AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE CITY CODE TO
CLASSIFY CERTAIN LANDS LOCATED NORTH OF OLD ROCKFORD ROAD,
WEST OF LARCH LANE AND EAST OF SUBURBAN HENNEPIN REGIONAL
PARK AS P-1 (PUBLICANSTITUTIONAL) (97052). Motion carried, six ayes.
Motion was made by Councilmember Spigner, seconded by Councilmember Johnson, to
adopt RESOLUTION 97-422 APPROVING FINDINGS OF FACT FOR REZONING
FOR MOUNT OLIVET LUTHERAN CHURCH FOR PROPERTY LOCATED
NORTH OF OLD ROCKFORD ROAD, WEST OF LARCH LANE AND EAST OF
SUBURBAN HENNEPIN REGIONAL PARK AS P -I (PUBLICANSTITUTIONAL)
97052);
RESOLUTION 97-423 APPROVING A SITE PLAN AMENDMENT AND
VARIANCE FOR MOUNT OLIVET LUTHERAN CHURCH FOR PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 12235 OLD ROCKFORD ROAD (97052); and
RESOLUTION 97-424 APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND FOUR
VARIANCES FOR MOUNT OLIVET LUTHERAN CHURCH FOR PROPERTY
LOCATED NORTH OF OLD ROCKFORD ROAD, WEST OF LARCH LANE AND
EAST OF SUBURBAN HENNEPIN REGIONAL PARK (97052).
Councilmember Preus indicated that he would support the motion. He noted that the distance
of the new driveway to the abutting property does not require a variance, and that is the issue
of concern to the adjacent neighbor. The applicant meets all variance and conditional use
permit standards.
Councilmember Johnson agreed and noted that the driveway was included in the original
plan.
Acting Mayor Wold said that he would consider a variance for a higher fence, and he
believes that the church should own and maintain the fence. He suggested that there may be
additional opportunities to work together on this issue.
Motion carried, six ayes.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
La ie Ahrens
City Clerk