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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, November 18, 2013 <br />6:30 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 19 of 35  <br />  <br />Schwingler moved, Landgraver seconded, to recommend approval of Application No 13-3640, <br />James Murphy, 20/30 Orono Orchard Road North, lot line rearrangement and extinguishment of <br />Resolution No. 4836. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br /> <br />5. #13-3641 JERILYN LOWE ON BEHALF OF TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2060 <br />SIXTH AVENUE NORTH, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, 8:21 P.M. – 8:31 P.M. <br /> <br />Jerilyn Lowe, Applicant, was present. <br /> <br />Thiesse noted he is a member of the church and helped put the application together. Thiesse stated if any <br />member of the audience would like him to abstain from voting on this application, he will step aside. <br /> <br />Curtis stated Trinity Lutheran Church is requesting a conditional use permit in order to construct an above <br />ground columbarium and an approximate 15’ x10’ open-sided gazebo within a proposed memory garden <br />in the west side yard of the church property. The proposal consists of a sidewalk/path, a four-foot tall <br />columbarium wall, benches and a gazebo in the garden area. The gazebo and columbarium wall meet the <br />setbacks required by City Code. According to Sections 78-418 (4) and (14) of the Code, the columbarium <br />inurnment wall must be set back at least 10 feet from the adjacent property and 50 feet from any principal <br />structures on adjacent lots. The project will meet those setbacks. In addition, the columbarium wall will <br />meet the 10- and 50-foot setback requirements. The applicant’s plan also illustrates the gazebo will be <br />placed at the conforming 50-foot setback from the property line. <br /> <br />There are existing trees on the property line between the church and the neighbor to the west. However, it <br />may be appropriate to plant additional trees or vegetation to offer more screening of the columbarium <br />from the property to the west and from CSAH 6. The property to the north is Wolsfeld Woods a DNR <br />natural area and is heavily wooded. The church building completely screens the columbarium from the <br />property to the east. <br /> <br />Planning Staff recommends approval. The applicant should be required to submit a planting plan related <br />specifically to the screening of the columbarium for City Council review and approval if the Planning <br />Commission deems appropriate. <br /> <br />The Planning Commission should hold the public hearing, allow public comments and make a <br />recommendation to the City Council. <br />Jerilyn Lowe, Applicant, stated she would like to point out that the stormwater pond is not on their plan <br />but is depicted on the aerial photograph. Lowe noted the stormwater pond on their property was <br />constructed in 2006 and there has not been any water in the pond since that time. <br /> <br />Chair Leskinen opened the public hearing at 8:25 p.m. <br /> <br />There were no public comments regarding this application. <br /> <br />Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 8:25 p.m. <br /> <br />Leskinen stated the only question she had was related to the east side and the amount of screening that <br />would be provided. Leskinen stated when she visited the property, the proposal felt really close to the <br />house on the west side. Leskinen asked if there would be screening around the gazebo area. <br /> <br />Item #01 - PC Agenda - 01/21/14* <br />Approval of Planning Commission Minutes 11/18/2013 <br />[Page 19 of 35]