06-11-2001 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2001 • 4. #01 -2676 Baywind Christian Church, Amendment to Municipal Code Section 10.42— Continued Gaffron stated that the Baywind Christian Church was before Council seeking "Churches" to be allowed as a conditional use in the B -4 zone. The B -4 zone is comprised of about 17 acres and is an office and professional business district. The businesses allowed have minimal contact with the public and are not allowed retail sales. There is a wide range of uses allowed in the B -4 zone and "Churches" is similar to several of the allowed uses, such as hospitals and schools. A church is a point load use where a number of people converge at a set time and leave again together, and would be operating on the weekends. Gaffron also stated that most other cities allow churches as a conditional use in single - family residence zones, not in commercial zones. There is not much activity in the B -4 zone. The church would have to meet parking requirements. There is some concern over noise and congestion in the neighborhood on Sunday and the potential for an increase of pedestrian traffic across a major roadway. Gaffron suggested Council require Baywind meet their church's parking needs without having people cross the roadway. White suggested that keeping all the required parking on the church lot would create hardcover issues. George Welles of 15658 South Woodgate Road, Minnetonka stated that based on their estimations of on -site parking, the congregation would have less than 10 cars parking across the street at an y time. He stated that Sunday traffic on County Road 19 is light. • Service arrivals and departures would be spaced out over a 3 -hour period. Baywind would like to maintain.the B -4 zoning so that they can resell the property in a few years as an office space. Some residential properties don't have access to city water and sewer. The B -4 zone allows almost all uses except churches. And today's churches "go to the people," locating in spaces such as malls, the airport, and the skyway. Sansevere stated he was concerned with the parking issue and people crossing County 19. Mr. Welles stated that the intended church sanctuary space will hold 216 people, and the congregation currently has about 150 parishioners. Rodney Beystrom of 4466 Denbigh Road, Mound stated that pedestrian crossover is not unprecedented. Fairview Covenant and Lord Fletchers both have parking lots across from the establishments, and commuters who use the municipal lot also have to cross the road. Maynard Johnson of 1556 Oak Ways, Wayzata stated that the Pastor would do extra services if necessary, so there would be no need for overflow parking. Moorse stated that one cannot assume 1 car per 4 people. If the congregation grew to full capacity, they would have parking issues.