Laserfiche WebLink
i <br /> I MINUTES OF TIIE <br /> � ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> � Monday,November 13,2006 <br /> � <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> � <br /> (7. #06-3233 EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF MINNESOTA,ST. ED!l�ARDS CHURCH, 865 <br /> � FERNDALE ROAD NORTH, Co�rtiirued) <br /> The Planning Commission voted 3-2 to reconunend approval of ihe conditional use permit for site <br /> grading and sign square footage variance,but not the sign height variance. The dissenting <br /> Commissioners were supportive of the application,but voted against the motion because they were <br /> ! supportive of the applicant's requesl for a 6-inch height variance for the proposed monument sign. <br /> ; <br /> The City Attorney has reviewed the applicant's request for a columbarium and has determined it is not a <br /> permitted use in the City. Iu order for the City to allow the constY-uction of the columbarium, the zoning <br /> ' Code may need to be amended to allow cemeteries/columbarium as a pennitted accessory or conditional <br /> use. <br /> Staff reconunends approval of the conditional use pennit amendments and sign variance. Staff <br /> reconmlends denial of the use variance in order to consh-uct a columbariun�/cemetery. The applicant will <br /> be expected to establish protective covenants over tl-►e wetland and buffer as well as dedicate the standard <br /> wetland drainage and utility easements as required in the Wetlands Protection ordinance. The Council <br /> should deterniine whether or not to impose a financial guarantee for the proposed improvements. <br /> Wright stated the building has been successfiilly reconstructed and that due to their limited Uudget,they <br /> would not be pursuing consh-uction of the columbarium at this point. <br /> Aberg addressed the City Council regard'u1g the landscaping of the church property. Aberg stated they <br /> are for the most part in agreement with the cotru7�ents by Planner Curtis and that the sign is proposed to <br /> sit in the middle of some landscaping and would be located quite a ways from the church given that this is <br /> a tl�u-ee-acre lot. Aberg noted the church is located along County Road 6, which is a higher speed road, <br /> and that they have designed the sign to be proportional,with the sign coming to a peak. <br /> Murphy inquired whether the sign has the same pitch as the church roof. <br /> AUerg stated it does. AUerg stated since flze sign sits out in the open, it does have the appearance of being <br /> smaller. � <br /> AUerg stated the requirement of filing the financial guarantee of$20,000 with the City is not possible for <br /> fl1e church,noting that the dirt and some other items are Ueing donated, which amount to roughly$4000. <br /> Aberg stated if the$20,000 requirement is not waived or reduced, it is unlikely that the church would Ue <br /> able to proceed for�vard with the project. <br /> Amy Ahlwarth requested the Council waive the application fee,noting that she has been a resident and <br /> parishioner of St. Edwards Church for the past 15 years. Ahlworth stated since the fire there have been <br /> numeious donations Uy both parishioners and nonparishioneis to help rebuild the church,but additional <br /> resources are still needed to finish the project. Ahlworth requested the City waive the fee as a show of <br /> C011lllllllll�SUj�]�OTt. <br /> Sansevere inqttired whether the City has gi-anted height variances to si�1s in the�ast. <br /> Gaffi-on stated historically the City has granted sign size variances,but he is not sure�vhether the City has <br /> granted a variance to the height. <br /> PAGE 6 of 15 <br />