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PL 04/19/1989 - 30700� �"� � CITY OF FRIDLEY PLANNING COI�3I88ION MEETING, APRIL 19, 1989 _..,....._..,._..___......_________..........»..,......,__..___________..______________ CALL TO ORDER• Chairperson Betzold called the April 19, 1989, Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:38 p.m. ROLL CALL• Members Present: Members Absent: Donald Betzold, Dave Kondrick, Dean Saba, Sue Sherek, Alex Barna, Paul Dahlberg None Others Present: Barbara Dacy, Planning Coordinator Roy Kirkham, 501 - 67th Avenue N.E. Curt Bostrum, 5652 Regis Trail N.E. Donn Hagman, 6616 Fridley Street N.E. Eldon Morrison, 2189 - 4th St., White Bear Lake Rev. Neil Bonkoski, Fridley Covenant Church APPROVAL OF APRIL 5. 1989, PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Saba, to approve the April 5, 1989, Planning Commission minutes as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. HETZOLD DECLARED THE 1. PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT. SP #89-05, BY FRIDLEY COVENANT CHURCH: Per Section 205.07.O1.C.2 of the Fridley City Code to allow the expansion of a church on Lots 1 through 4, Block 1, Sylvan Hills Plat 4, the same being 6390 University Avenue N.E. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Sherek, to waive the reading of the public hearing notice and to open the public hearing. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON BETZOLD DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PIIBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 7:40 P.M. Ms. Dacy stated Fridley Covenant Church is located on the southwest corner of Satellite Lane and the intersection of T.H. 47. It also abuts Mercury Drive on the south side. The property is zoned R-1, single family residential district. Church uses are allowed in R- � PLANNING COMMI88ION MEETING. APRIL 19, 1989 - PAGE 2 � 1 districts with a special use permit. The proposal to construct a 37 ft. by 26 ft. addition into the northeast corner of the church. The addition will contain two levels. The upper level will be a narthex or foyer area into the existing sanctuary and a small corner will be used for a library. The lower level is for a classroom and reconstructed bathroom facilities. The lower level bathroom area was originally a classroom, and that is being relocated to the northeast corner. Ms. Dacy stated that because the narthex area will not have any fixed seating nor is any additional seating or assembly area proposed, staff is recommending that no additional parking be required. However, staff is recommending that the petitioner install additional landscaping to meet the intent of the Zoning Code (stipulation #1). Ms. Dacy stated staff is recommending approval of SP #89-05 subject to the following two stipulations: 1. The petitioner shall install the following landscaping materials: a. 5-8 foot balled and burlapped Black Hills spruce �"� evergreen trees, 20 feet o.c., 5 feet from the curb of the north parking area; b. 3- 2 1/2 caliper inch balled and burlapped Burr oak tress, 40 feet o.c., 10 feet from the curb, plus 26 Bird's Nest spruce planted 5 feet o.c. with edging and rock mulch, and an appropriate weed barrier. 2. The petitioner shall combine the existing tax parcels for the property into one tax parcel. Mr. Betzold asked if the City had any long range plans for the elimination of the entrance drive onto University Avenue in front of Burger King and the church. Ms. Dacy stated she was not aware of any plans. Mr. Eldon Morrison stated he is the architect working with Fridley Covenant Church on this proposal. He stated they feel the addition will be very compatible with the existing building and will look like an extension of the same building. They feel the addition will fit the site very nicely and will enhance the function of the church in that they will now have a larger gathering place before and after church. ^ Mr. Morrison stated that after further discussion with his clients, they have more concern about the landscaping than they did earlier. Being a church and being located on University Avenue, they do want ^ PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, APRIL 19, 1989 - PAGE 3 the church to remain visible. The concern is if they do the landscaping to the extent it is recommended by staff, the church will be hidden from exposure to passersby. On the north also they would like to maximize exposure of the building to the public. There are 36-37 oak trees on the property, and they will be losing only 2-3 trees with the construction, so they certainly have a lot of green space and they would like to minimize the additional landscaping. They are suggesting having low bushes by the parking lot on the west side, by the service drive on the University Avenue side, and on Satellite Lane. It has been their experience that larger evergreen trees tend to block the view of a building. Mr. Donn Hagman stated he is a member of the church and the building committee. He stated they are on a relatively tight budget. Their intent in proposing smaller shrubbery is they could do some of the work themselves and save the project some money versus having to contract a service to put in larger trees. Mr. Morrison stated the church parking lot on the side of the University Avenue Service Road is used only on Sunday and perhaps one night during the week. Mr. Curtis Bostrum stated he is also a member of the church and the ^ building committee. As Mr. Morrison had pointed out, the only time there are cars on the north side and east side is on Sunday morning between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon. The main entrance to the church is in the rear of the church where the majority of the parking is. The parking area is approximately 6 feet above the street level, both on Satellite Lane as well as on the University Avenue Service Road. So, either standing or sitting in a car, a person cannot even see the parking area. A person can see the fronts of cars and the church. If they are required to plant 8 foot trees, proportionately they will not look good, because they are so large to start with. Then, in 5-10 years, those trees are going to be 20-25 feet tall. Across the street at Burger King, there are spruce trees there which are very huge. Those spruce trees are planted farther apart than what is being suggested by staff. Mr. Bostrum stated they are certainly willing to put in some screening but do not agree with the type of screening stipulated. They would like a lower shrub that does not grow so high and is easier to maintain themselves. Rev. Neil Bonkoski, member and pastor of the church, stated that along University Avenue from the corner of Mercury Drive up through about two-thirds of parking area, there is a screening of bushes and trees that is already in place right now. ^ Mr. Bostrum asked who is responsible for maintaining the screening along University Avenue. � PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINa, APRIL 19, 1989 - PAGE 4 Mr. Dahlberg stated that is the Highway Department's responsibility. Mr. Bostrum stated he did not believe that screening is ever maintained. The church people clean out the debris every spring, but he never sees anyone do any trimming or maintenance, and it certainly takes away from the appearance of their property and the City in general. Ms. Dacy stated stipulation 1-b was in reaction to Mr. Morrison's comment that the church wanted to reduce the intensity of the year- around screening that has been proposed. Staff thought the area along University Avenue would be the area of main concern so staff had recommended 3 small single trees and an evergreen shrub that could be trimmed at 3 feet. Upon the Commission's direction, staff could work with the petitioner on an alternative landscaping plan. Stipulation 1-a was based on the type of plantings across the street at Burger King and thought it would be appropriate for the site. Mr. Betzold stated that unless they can come up with an agreeable alternative landscaping plan at this meeting, Planning Commission will have to make an incomplete recommendation to City Council. ^ They want to have a plan that meets the intent of the ordinance and is attractive to the City, yet is comfortable for the petitioner, and they certainly do not want landscaping that is going to hide the church. Ms. Sherek agreed with the petitioner about the spruce trees. They do grow too large. She stated the Bird's Nest spruce is not a tree. It is a shrub that can be maintained at a height of 2 1/2 - 6 feet. Mr. Bostrum stated that would be acceptable for the north side. Ms. Dacy stated staff would be comfortable with having stipulation 1-b apply to the whole site. Mr. Kondrick stated he would agree to 1-b applying to the whole site. MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Barna, to close the public hearing. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERBON BETZOLD DECLARED THE POBLIC HEARING CL03ED AT 7:50 P.M. MOTION by Mr. Barna, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to recommend to City ^ Council approval of special use permit, SP #89-05, by the Fridley Covenant Church, per Section 205.07.01.C.2 of the Fridley City Code to allow the expansion of a church on Lots 1 through 4, Block 1, ,_,t,\ PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, APRIL 19. 1989 - PAGE 5 Sylvan Hills Plat 4, the same being 6390 University Avenue N.E., with the following stipulations: 1. The petitioner shall install the following landscaping materials: 3- 2 1/2 caliper inch balled and burlapped Burr Oak trees, 40 feet on center, 10 feet from the curb, on the University Avenue side, Bird's Nest spruce planted 5 feet on center with edging and rock mulch and an appropriate weed barrier along the eastern and northern parking areas. 2. The petitioner shall combine the existing tax parcels for the property into one tax parcel. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON HETZOLD DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED DNANIMOIISLY. Mr. Betzold stated this item will go to City Council on May 1. 2. RECEIVE MARCH 28, 1989. JOINT ENVIRONMENTAL OUALITY COMMISSION/ ENERGY COMMIS5ION MEETING MINUTES• � MOTION by Mr. Dahlberg, seconded by Mr. Saba, to receive the March 28, 1989, joint EQC/Energy Commission meeting minutes. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON BETZOLD DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIIBLY. Mr. Saba stated that at their meeting the previous night, the Commissions voted to recommend that the EQC and Energy Commissions be combined into one commission. It will be a seven member commission, not to fall below seven members. He stated this recommendation will be coming to the Planning Commission and then to the City Council. Mr. Betzold stated that when this recommendation for the combining of the two commissions comes before the Planning Commission, the members should also be prepared to make recommendations regarding the structure of the Planning Commission membership. ADJOURNMEATT : MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Barna, to adjourn the meeting. IIpon a voice vote, all votiaq aye, Chairperson Betzold declared the April 19, 1989, Planninq Commission meeting adjourned at 8:0o p.m. n PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, APRIL 19, 1989 - PAGE 6 � Respectfully submitted, �� Ly Saba Recording Secretary � �