5.1a. PCSR 12-18-2018
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
Statutory Review Period
Per State Statute §15.99, the required 60-day review period ends on January 25, 2019.
Council Meeting
If acted on, this item will go to the January 22, 2019, City Council meeting.
Attachments
Location Map
MU-ERP Zoning Exhibit
Applicant’s Narrative
Proposed Language
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Description of Project Narrative
Legal Description / Property Under Consideration: The legal description of the property is
“Lots 1 and 2, Block 1. Elk River Plaza Second Addition”, according to the plat thereof on file
and of record in the Office of the County Recorder in and for Sherburne County, Minnesota. Or,
13,000+/- square feet (the South end of the Marcus Theater Building) and the adjoining outdoor
space directly South of the building.
Glory of Christ Fellowship (hereafter GCF or the Church) was founded in 2007 and is registered
with the State of Minnesota as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The Church was granted State
and Federal tax-exempt status and began holding public meetings and offering various services
that same year.
From the beginning, GCF has held Sunday morning worship at the Handke Family Center (1170
Main Street NW) and maintained a small office in Old Town Elk River (707 Highway 10, Suite
300). In addition to the services GCF offers to its congregants, it has also been a member of the
Chamber of Commerce, contributed time and resources to other non-profit organizations in the
City of Elk River (hereafter the City), and held occasional events for the community like back-
to-school give-aways and a Christmas dinner for disadvantaged families.
While the church has experienced a modest amount of growth (approximately 180 members and
regular attenders), the time has come for GCF to transition to a full-time, dedicated facility from
which it can better serve its congregants and the community at-large. The Church’s Facilities
Team has considered several properties available for lease or purchase, and through a vetting
process has chosen to pursue a long-term lease (12-15 years) with Marcus Properties for the
space at the south end of their building (550 Freeport Avenue). This space has been vacant for
several years, and therefore, the church thinks that occupying this space will be good for the
City, for Marcus Properties, and for its congregants.
If the Church is granted permission from the City and is able to reach an agreement with Marcus
Properties, it plans to build out the 13,000+/- interior space on the South end of the building
according to the provisional fit-use plan attached to this request. Generally speaking, the buildout
will include (1) a large space that will be used for worship, presentations, weddings, and the like,
(2) several classrooms, (3) a non-commercial kitchen and gathering space, (4) office space, and
(5) storage space. The church plans to utilize these spaces for Sunday morning worship and
religious education (approximately 7:00 a.m-1:00 p.m.), Wednesday evening programing for
adults and children (approximately 5:00-9:00 p.m.), religious education, biblical counseling
services, community service (for example, giving away educational supplies in the fall or feeding
disadvantaged families during the holiday season), and church administration.
While the Marcus Theater property is located in a Subzone C. Commercial zone, GCF is seeking
a zoning change/addition only to the 13,000+/- square feet and the adjoining outside space to the
south of the building to an “institutional user,” that is, one of “those establishments engaged in
activities of a noneconomic nature, frequently being the performance of services classified as a
governmental or commercial user in this division” The legal description of the property is “Lots
1 and 2, Block 1. Elk River Plaza Second Addition”, according to the plat thereof on file and of
record in the Office of the County Recorder in and for Sherburne County, Minnesota.
As such, we will provide a variety of services to the community free of charge that will in turn
benefit the City and advance its comprehensive plan in the following ways.
Maintain a Distinct Identity: Elk River has been friendly toward religious communities
from its earliest days, and it has benefited from their presence as well. Allowing GCF to
occupy this property will help maintain this heritage and add a “small town” feel to the
business district.
Create and Maintain Strong Neighborhoods: Allowing GCF to occupy this property will
provide family-friendly services to the City in the business district, and it will allow the
Church to offer services free of charge or other obligation to local residents.
Keep Elk River a “Safe” Place: Allowing GCF to occupy this property will increase the
safety of this portion of the business district due to the presence of their congregants and
security measures such as alarms and video surveillance.
Preserve and Maintain the Environment: Allowing GCF to occupy this property will
advance the City’s reputation for environmental care, for the Church will not be a
significant producer of waste, it will not produce toxic waste, and it will leave a
negligible environmental footprint upon vacating the premises.
Make Elk River a “Complete” Place: Allowing GCF to occupy this property will likely
cause the church to grow which will in turn create employment and volunteer
opportunities for local residents. The church currently has two full-time and three part-
time employees, all of whom live in or near Elk River. Further, since the church will
provide a variety of educational opportunities to all residents of the City, it will enhance
the cultural richness of the City, particularly in the business district.
Therefore, GCF requests that the City amend the zoning ordinance for this property to allow it to
occupy and utilize the space in these ways, and with these benefits, in early 2019. If the city
grants the amendment and we reach an agreement with Marcus Properties, we plan to complete
the build out as soon as possible and occupy the space upon the City’s approval.
Number of Employees: Current staff includes two full-time employees and three part-time
employees. Future growth could potentially put us at 5 – 10 full-time employees.
Number of parking stall, existing and additional: There are approximately 300 parking stalls
on the property and about 500 stalls on the adjacent properties to the north. Per the Easements
Covenants and Restrictions (ECR), all of those stalls are available on a non-exclusive basis.
Proposed building materials: All building materials shall be of highest quality and shall meet
prevailing codes.
Signage: We would anticipate three to four signs each being 4’ x 8, or 5’ x 10’. If code allows
we would put 3 signs on the building. The two facing south and east would possible be hi-
resolution programmable LED. The one facing West would be a standard lighted box. The
fourth along Freeport Ave. would be a pedestal with a standard lighted box.
Storage: Currently there is no anticipated outside storage or screening.
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Ordinance 18 -
An Ordinance Amending Section, 30-1584, MU-ERP mixed use Elk River Plaza
district of the City of Elk River, Minnesota, City Code
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. That § Section 30-1584, MU-ERP mixed use Elk River Plaza district of the City of
Elk River Code of Ordinances shall be amended as follows:
(a) Purpose. The purpose of the mixed use Elk River Plaza district is to codify the planned unit
development into a single zoning district with three subsections: Commercial, single-family,
and multiple-family.
(b) Subzone A. Multiple-family residential.
(1) Permitted uses are as follows:
a. Single-family residential.
b. Two-family residential.
c. Townhouse dwellings.
d. Multiple-family residential.
(2) Accessory uses are as follows:
a. Accessory structures.
b. Public shelters.
(3) Conditional uses are as follows:
a. Conditional home occupations.
(c) Subzone B. Single-family residential.
(1) Permitted uses are as follows:
a. Single-family residential.
(2) Accessory uses are as follows:
a. Accessory structures.
(3) Conditional uses are as follows:
(4) Conditional home occupations.
(d) Subzone C. Commercial.
(1) Permitted uses are as follows:
a. Business and professional offices.
b. Class I restaurants.
c. Nurseries, produce markets, and garden centers, which may include outdoor display.
d. Outpatient health care facilities.
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e. Personal service establishments.
f. Public parks.
g. Retail shops and stores.
h. Sale of firearms.
i. Zero lot line development.
(2) Accessory uses are as follows:
a. Off-street parking facilities.
b. Off-street parking facilities.
c. Public shelters.
(3) Conditional uses are as follows:
a. Carwashes.
b. Class II restaurants.
c. Commercial recreation, outdoor.
d. Commercial recreational facilities, indoor.
e. Dry cleaning establishment.
f. Enclosed light manufacturing with related retail sales.
g. Equipment rental businesses with no outdoor storage.
h. Financial institutions.
i. Funeral parlors.
j. Governmental offices.
k. Institutional Uses.
k.l. Licensed day care facilities.
l.m. Motor vehicle specialty shops.
m.n. Nonprofit clubs, lodges or halls.
n.o. On-sale liquor establishments.
o.p. Pawnshops (250-foot setback from any residential zone and 500-foot setback from
schools, parks, day care centers, churches and other pawnshops, measured from the
property line).
p.q. Produce markets.
q.r. Sauna establishments.
r.s. Shopping centers.
s.t. Veterinary clinics.
SECTION 2. That this ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and be published as provided by
law.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 22nd day of January, 2019.
______________________________
John J. Dietz, Mayor
ATTEST:
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_______________________________
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Last Updated March 2014