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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