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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, November 13, 2006 <br />7:00 o'clock p.m. • <br />(7. #06 -3233 EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF MINNESOTA, ST. EDTEARDS CHURCH, 865 <br />FERNDALE ROAD NORTH, Continued) <br />The Planning Commission voted 3 -2 to recommend approval of the 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 request for a 6 -inch height variance for the proposed monument sign. <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. In order for the City to allow the construction of the columbarium, the zoning <br />Code may need to be amended to allow cemeteries /columbarium as a permitted accessory or conditional <br />use. <br />Staff recoimnends approval of the conditional use permit amendments and sign variance. Staff <br />reconunends denial of the use variance in order to construct a columbarium/cemetery. The applicant will <br />be expected to establish protective covenants over the 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 determine whether or not to impose a financial guarantee for the proposed improvements. <br />Wright stated the building has been successfully reconstructed and that due to their limited budget, they <br />would not be pursuing construction of the columbarium at this point. <br />Aberg addressed the City Council regarding the landscaping of the church property. Aberg stated they 40 are for the most part in agreement with the comments by Planner Curtis arid 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 three -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 conung to a peak. <br />Murphy inquired whether the sign has the same pitch as the church roof. <br />Aberg stated it does. Aberg stated since the sign sits out in the open, it does have the appearance of being <br />smaller. I <br />Aberg stated the requirement of filing the financial guarantee of $20,000 with the City is not possible for <br />the church, noting that the dirt and some other items are being 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 be <br />able to proceed forward with the project. <br />Amy Ahlworth 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 />numerous donations by both parishioners and nonparishioners 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 />community support. <br />Sansevere inquired whether the City has granted height variances to signs in the past. <br />Gaffron stated historically the Citj has granted sign size variances, but he is not sure whether the City has <br />granted a variance to the height. • <br />PAGE 6 of 15 <br />V <br />