6.4. SR 07-17-2000Zity of
MEMORANDUM
Item #
6.4.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
The Mayor and City Council
StephenWensman, Planner .?
July 17, ~.000
Request by Ericksmoen Construction for a
Conditional Use Permit to Construct a Church
(Living Waters Church), Public Hearing Case No.
CU 00-17
Request
Ericksmoen Construction is requesting a conditional use permit to construct a
church in the Rla zoning district.
Location
21260 Meadowvale Road; the north 156.75 feet of the East 833.68 feet of the NW ~A
of the NW ¼ of Section 18, Township 33, Range 26.
Zoning/Landuse
Rla (Single Family Residential) / LR (Low Density Residential)
Attachments
· Location Map
· Site Plan
· Landscape Plan
· Floor Plan
· Building Elevations
· Grading, Drainage, and Erosion Control Plan, dated May 30, 2000
· Site Survey
· City Engineer Memorandum
· Sherburne County Highway Engineer Memorandum
13065 Orono Parkway * P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
Memo to the City Council/CU 00-17
July 17, 2000
Page 2
Overview
Ericksmoen Construction is requesting a conditional use permit to construct a
14,760 SF church in the Rla zoning district. The property is located in the Rla
zoning district on the west edge of the City. The surrounding properties are large lot
residential with some agricultural land across Meadowvale Road to the east. To
construct the church, an existing house will be removed and two lots will be
combined. The site plan as submitted is in error as it shows there to be three lots.
In 1999, the City Council granted a conditional use permit for an office and small
meeting space for the adjacent residential property located at 12160 Meadowvale
Road. At that time, a landscape plan was made a condition of approval. The
landscaping has not yet been completed, however the applicant intends to landscape
the parsonage at the same time as the church property. The site plans indicate that
trees moved from the church property will be relocated onto the parsonage property.
No specific planting plan has been submitted for the parsonage.
From the submitted plans, it appears as though most of the issues raised by staff
have been addressed, however it is unclear whether the plans reflect all of the
Sherburne County Engineer's requests.
Analysis
Tree Preservation
The building and parking lot have been laid out to save as many trees as possible.
The construction will necessitate moving or removing 9 coniferous and 3 deciduous
trees. The future expansion of the parking will necessitate the removal of an
additional 3 deciduous trees and 3 coniferous trees.
Floor Plans
As proposed, the Church will have a sanctuary capacity of about 350 people. The
building plans indicate facilities for meeting rooms, 5 classrooms, a nursery, kitchen
and offices. The classrooms proposed are for Sunday school only. No Montessori or
other alternative schools are being planned for.
Building Elevations
As proposed, the building will be constructed out of rock-faced block. Ericksmoen
Construction built a similar church in Ramsey of which staff has prepared a video
that will be played at the public hearing.
Access / County's recommendation
Both the Church property and the parsonage property have road frontage on
Meadowvale Road with individual driveways. The plans for the project were sent to
the Sherburne County Highway Department for review. The County is requesting
that both properties share a single access driveway to be located at a minimum of
\ \elkriver\sys\shrdoc\planning\stevewen\ccmmo\cuOO17.doc
Memo to the City Council/CU 00-17
July 17, 2000
Page 3
330 feet from the nearest driveway to the south. An easement will be necessary to
provide access across the Church property for the parsonage. An easement will be
needed for the additional right-of-way requested by the County. The County is also
requesting that a turn lane be installed. It is unclear whether turn lanes have been
provided.
To the south of the Church property is a private road in an easement that serves the
homes immediately south of the Church property. The Church has no plans to access
from the easement.
Parking
City Ordinance requires 116 parking stalls, based on a sanctuary capacity of 350
people. There are 99 parking stalls proposed in the first phase, enough to meet the
present size of the congregation. The applicant has demonstrated that an additional
51 stalls can be installed in a second phase. The Church shall construct the
demonstrated parking at the time additional parking becomes necessary and upon
request by the City.
Well and Septic System
The building will be serviced by a private well and septic system.
Lighting
The site plan shows the parking lot to be lit by (3) 2-foot light poles located in the
parking islands. Additional lighting will be provided from wall pack lights located
on the building walls (no detail provided).
Landscaping
The landscaping of the parsonage will be incorporated into the Church project. City
Ordinance requires that the applicant plant 24 deciduous overstory trees, 12 conifers
and 12 ornamental trees. The landscape plan conforms to the City Ordinance.
Signs
The site plan and building elevations indicate one monument sign near Meadowvale
Road and one wall sign over the Church entrance. The sign ordinance allows one
wall sign and one monument sign not to exceed 96 square feet in total sign area. The
sign is required to be setback ten feet from the public right-of-way and outside of any
easements. The monument sign is shown with a setback of less than ten feet from
the right-of-way, however there is adequate space to move the sign. Prior to
installation of the signs, a City of Elk River Sign Permit will be required.
\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\planning\stevewen\ccmmo\cu0017.doc
Memo to the City Council/CU 00-17
July 17, 2000
Page 4
Grading, Drainage and Erosion Control
The ponds on the site have been sized to handle the building and parking lot runoff
including the future parking (see the attached Howard R. Green Memorandum). No
new grading, drainage or erosion control has been provided since the Planning
Commission review.
Easements
Additional easements will be needed above what has been indicated on the site plan.
Drainage and utihty easement will be required over wetlands and NURP ponds.
Ten-foot drainage and utility easements are required inside the perimeter of both
properties and outside the road right-of-way in the front yards. An access easement
is needed over the access drive for the parsonage (See the attached Howard R. Green
memorandum).
Wetlands
The wetland on the site has been delineated and will not be disturbed by this
project.
Planning Commission
At the public hearing held on June 27, 2000 there was no public opposition to the
proposed development. Several Commissioners were concerned with the industrial
look of the building and felt it would not blend in with the residential and
agricultural surroundings, however it was determined that the building did conform
with the architectural requirements of the City Ordinance. The Commission
recommended approval of the request as recommended by staff.
Recommendation
Staff and the Planning Commission recommend that the City Council approval the
conditional use permit to construct a church with the following conditions:
THAT THE 4 CONDITIONS IN THE SHERBURNE COUNTY PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENT MEMO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE
DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND THAT AN ACCESS PERMIT BE OBTAINED
FROM THE COUNTY PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION.
2. THAT AN EASEMENT BE PROVIDED FOR THE ACCESS ACROSS
CHURCH PROPERTY FOR THE PARSONAGE.
o
THAT 10-FOOT DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS BE GRANTED TO
THE CITY INSIDE THE PERIMETER OF THE PROPERTY AND OUTSIDE
THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY.
o
THAT A SIGN PERMIT BE OBTAINED PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION OF
ANY SIGNS AND THAT THE MONUMENT SIGN BE SETBACK 10 FEET
FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY.
\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\planning\stevewen\ccmmo\cu0017. doc
Memo to the City Council/CU 00-17
July 17, 2000
Page 5
10.
11.
12.
THAT THE CONDITIONS OF CU 99-9 BE COMPLIED WITH.
THE PARSONAGE PROPERTY BE LANDSCAPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE CHURCH PROPERTY.
THAT THE COMMENTS OF THE CITY ENGINEER BE INCORPORATED
INTO THE SITE PLANS.
THAT ANY TREES ON OR OFF SITE, NEAR THE LIMIT OF GRADING,
THAT ARE TO BE PROTECTED, BE FENCED WITH A SNOW FENCE
PRIOR TO TREE REMOVAL OR CONSTRUCTION OF THE PUBLIC
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE DRIPLINE TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO TREES
BY INADVERTENT GRADING, EROSION, SOIL COMPACTION AND
STORAGE OF DEBRIS OR EQUIPMENT IN THE TREES.
THAT THE DEMONSTRATED PARKING AREA BE INSTALLED WHEN THE
PARKING IS NEEDED OR AS REQUESTED BY THE CITY OF ELK RIVER.
THAT LIGHTING BE PROVIDED THAT CONFORMS TO CITY ORDINANCE.
THAT DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS OVER WETLANDS AND
PONDING AREAS BE GRANTED TO THE CITY.
THAT A SUBDIVISION EXEMPTION BE COMPLETED AND RECORDED
PRIOR TO RECORDING THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMT WITH THE
COUNTY.
\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\planning\stevewen\ccmmo\cu0017.doc
LOCATION
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13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490
Elk Pdver. M.N 55330
LOCATION
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GI[NERAL NOTE~S
Ho.ward R, Green Oompany
QONSU/TING ENGINEERS
June 19, 2000
File: 810600J-0240
Mr. Steve Wensman
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330-0490
RE:
LIVING WATERS CHURCH
CITY OF ELK RIVER, MINNESOTA
Dear Mr. Wensman:
We have reviewed the revised drawing prepared by Plowe Engineering Inc. for the above
referenced project. The drawing had a version date of May 30, 2000. Based on our review, we
would offer the following comments:
Sherburne County has reviewed the proposed development and requested an
additional right turn lane and a by-pass lane be constructed on County Road 32.
These should be reflected on the plan.
The pond at the west side of the property should have an emergency overflow
elevation shown. Currently the high water level is indicated at 950.3 and the highest
contour shown is 950. We would suggest that one location be shown for the
emergency overflow and not allow water to centrally shoot over the entire berm
length. We also believe that in this location the 950 and 952 contour need to be
shown between the pond and the proposed building.
The ponds located near County Road 32 have an emergency overflow elevation of
950.8. The top of the berm is indicated at 950. The emergency overflow elevation
cannot be above the top of the pond as it is currently shown. If the pond rises to
950.8, currently the northeast corner of the parking lot, including several stalls and
the drive isle, will be inundated. This situation needs to be reviewed.
Does the existing house to be removed have a well and septic system which needs
to be abandoned? If so, show them on the plan.
5. Drainage and utility easements 10 feet wide should be provided around the
perimeter of the property.
Sincerely,
Howard R. Green Company
T 'e~~r ,~PP~. ~'~
Ltr-O61600-Wensman.doc
1326 Energy Park Drive · St. Paul, MN 55108 · 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446
toll free 888/368-4389
June 12,2000
PUBLIC
Sherbu~"
WORKS DEPARTMENT
Rhonda F. Lewis, P.E.
425 Jackson Avenue
Elk River, MN 55330
(7631 241-7030 · 800-594-5208
Stephen Wensman
City of Elk River Planning Dept.
13065 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: Living Waters Church
Dear Mr. Wensman;
After reviewing the proposed preliminary plat, an access permit will be required with the following cOnditions:
1) A minimum of 330' is required from the existing driveways to the proposed access. We Believe this
could be accomplished by combining the church and the parsonage access and by placing the pond
to the south and placing the proposed access between parcel B and C.
2) Any existing field entrance and/or driveways must be removed.
3) The traffic generated from this church will require that a right turn lane and a bypass lane be
constructed to MnDot standards, including the necessary pavement marking changes.
4) A stop sign and a fight turn lane sign must be paid for with installation done by the Public Works
Department.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to call me at the above phone number.
Sincer~.y,
~p.E.~'~
Assistant County Engineer
cc:
Kathy Heaney, Co. Atty.
Nancy Riddle, P&Z
John Oliver, Co. Surveyor
Dave Schwarting, Co. Eng.