08-23-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, August 23, 2010 • 7:00 o'clock p.m. (5. 00 -3483 CITY OF ORONO —AMENDMENT TO RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS TO ALLOW INTERNMENT OF CREMATED REMAINS AS ANA CCESSORY USE TO PLACES OF WORSHIP, Continued) 4. Adjacent to streets a 20 -foot setback for anything but landscaping and fence /wall (without niches). Within the yard setback required by the zoning district, no structures over 42 inches high. Between the yard setback required by the zoning district and the 50 -foot setback, no structures over six feet high. 7. A 50 -foot setback for a structure over six feet or a columbarium building. Council should discuss the changes to the proposal, particularly in regard to the need to make columbaria a principal conditional use and the inability to require that the structures be removed. Bremer noted she is a member of one of the churches that is present tonight but that the City Council is not being requested to vote on an application being submitted by any particular church. Mattick pointed out this is a city initiated application. • Bremer commented that most everyone is aware of columbaria and that it is a fairly common practice throughout the Twin Cities. Bremer stated in her view Staff's recommendations and the input of the City Attorney have addressed the concerns that have been raised. n U Betsy Lee, St. Edward's Church, stated they are not actively working on constructing a columbarium at the present time but are contemplating building it at some point in the future. At the time the church was reconstructed, their plans incorporated a columbarium. Julie Zubay, 150 North Shore Drive, Trinity Lutheran Church, indicated they are also in the process of drafting a plan but are not ready at this point to commence actual construction. Dave Owen, 3486 Ivy Place, stated he is here to some degree representing Good Shepherd Church. The congregation is ready to construct an inurement garden at this time, with the plan being to place the ashes in the ground rather than to construct an above - ground columbaria. Plans and agreements have been developed and a contractor has been lined up. The garden would be located more than 120 feet away from any other development. Owen commented there is a need for this type of structure given the fact that new cemeteries are not being developed. Churches that are now accommodating a resting place for remains are providing a much needed service to the community. Cremation is considered the final disposition of the body and the remains are sterile, provide no health risk, and are considered an ecological safe method of burial. Good Shepherd started this process approximately six or seven years ago. Owen noted that there are both in ground and above ground columbaria in a number of surrounding communities. Page 3 of 18