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The difTerence in Cily standards between the "R" and "B-4” districts is actually relative!) <br />minor. Ihe minimum lot size in B4 is 20.000 s.f. (about'/: acre), although most of our B-4 <br />abuts the LR-IB. I-acre zone. The lot coverage standard would apply to an> <br />B-4 lot less than 2 acres in area. Hardcover limits would appl> in B-4 identical to those in <br />R districts. Most of the B-4 district is either within 500-1000’ of Lake Minnetonka (35® i <br />hardcover allowed) or is further than 1000’ (no hardcover limit). The last new structure built <br />in B-4 was the Casco Run oRice building in 1 981 ; the ReMa.\ building that i 'ay w ind Church <br />wants to acquire was built in 1969 witli additions in 1978. <br />A. <br />How docs the church use compare with other B-4 pcmiitied or conditional uses in regard to <br />potential neighborhood impacts? <br />Pennitted uses are municipal buildings, ofllces, clinics, banks and insurance offices. All <br />these arc primarily daytime uses, with little or no activity in the evenings or weekends. The <br />church use occurs primarily on weekends and evenings, so it h;is potentially different limes <br />of traffic activity than would be the nonn for the B-J. <br />Conditional uses in B-4 include many of the types of uses that would be considered as <br />"Institutional" and which in some instances may be open on weekends or evenings (nursing <br />homes, hospitals, libraries, museums, galleries) as well as during normal business hours. <br />Churches tend to have "e\ ent" activity (regular ser\ ices, weddings, funerals, etc.) rather than <br />a day-long distribution of traffic typical of the other B-4 uses. This can create traOic impacts <br />that other B-4 uses are less likely to create. I'oi instance, it adds the potential for ofT-sitc <br />parking needs A .3.00 • i.f.. 300-seai assembly hall would require 75 parking stalls per <br />Orono code; the same si/e 3.000 s.f. ofllce building would require 15 stalls. <br />The impacts of a church use on the adjoining neighborhotnl w ill be the added noise, glare, <br />and congestion from \ chicles during certain times when the office use would have little such <br />actis ity. The potential for pedestrian traffic across a major thoroughfare is a second potential <br />impact in the B-4. since all Orono properties currentKThistorically zoned B-4 abut a major <br />thoroughfare. 2‘.is is only .significant if the intended overflow parking is across that <br />thon>ughfare. <br />Staff is \er> concerned about allowing a church on a site that docs not have sufllcient <br />parking, particularly if the additional parking is to be located across a busy county highway. <br />(Related to the RcMa.\ site, not specifically to the B-4 amendment) Does the proposed church <br />use require the installation of a fire suppression sprinkler system in the building? <br />Lyle Oman has briefly reviewed the proposal and believes the building would not have to <br />be sprinkled. <br />i