5.a)4) February 12, 2008 Special Meeting �-- * .S. G��y�
Special City Council Meeting
February 12,2008
A special meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date. Mayor Dennis
Seefeldt called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. The following were present: Council Members
Pete Crum,Michael Harnetty, Dolores Peterson, Donnette Yehle, and Mayor Dennis Seefeldt.
Planning Commissioners present: Moose Malmquist, Peter Schwarz. Staff: City Planner Sherri
Buss; Administrator Anne Hurlburt, Code Enforcement Official Steve Thorp. Citizen: Thomas
Krinke. ,
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the application of W'�t�r,oV�rook Community Church
for a Conditional Use Permit to construct a place of worship ��O.S�z��s west of 11262 Scandia
Trail.
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Chris Doehrmann, azchitect for the church, stated thati at the end of the last m`�eti�g,the majority
of the Commission and Council seemed to indicate'that the pro1�s�ed church bui�c�iuig i�
aesthetically acceptable, and that does not need to be��evisited��The Church wants tcj connect
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with the community on the road side, and have the fron�acing the road. They w '�t pazking
close and convenient to the entrances, and a clear path to�e entrances.
Pastor Brad Reis said the church board h l�;working with� arc}uxect and they have
approved building as presented to city. Th � �,wwr� more_insight regarding the city's regulations
and to understand the more subjective requir ' ents ..�; �_ ��
Mayor Seefeldt said tha e��'n issue is the p pac�imity o f t�i e building to Highway 97 and the
impact on the views ` The m�a" �,'ty of the Co 4 n m ission and Council have said they would
l i k e t o s e e t h e p az k i�g`t `z�e si de ' rear o f t he c h�r�h. T h is is consis ten t wi t h ear ly discussions
when the church initiall�ear� �,i s�the� shoreland ordinance amendment that allowed
considerati�of-tl,us site. %
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Pastor�'�es asked whe� xs the sp ��x�ation that requires this? Administrator Hurlburt
said�tha�some of the crit�ei�a for issu��'Conditional Use Permit are subjective. There have
been many discussions that�the churcl��plan needed to be consistent v�nth rural character and fit
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into the lands�;ape.
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Doehrmann said that'was m 'tioned but there was also discussion about k in the church
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away from the lake.�'The�yout presented was the best solution to the church's needs. They do
not want to move the�i�uilding closer to the road or to place the parking on the back,away from
the entrance. The front needs to face south. Pastor Ries said that church members preferred
parking convenient to the door.
Planner Buss said that the city requested options to consider,but that had been dismissed by Mr.
Doehrmann. The City is using its comprehensive planning process to define its rural character,
what is special about the community and the design standards needed to fulfill that. Suburban-
style parking lots are not part of that character.
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Special City Council Meeting
February 12,2008
Pastor Ries asked if the pazking could not be seen, would that be okay? Harnetty said yes,but
this is a"strip mall"model,that is the visual image that is the problem.
Doehrmann stated that the Community Center has parking in the front,but because of snow piles
passers by can't see the pavement,but they can see cars. Doehrmann sketched a layout with the
parking north of the existing building location, stating that this would not work with the function
of the interior of the building.
Mayor Seefeldt said that this was a vacant site with many options for d�sign,but the church had
chosen to justify their layout and ignore many of the community's ��cerns:
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Doehrmann said that if all the parking must be behind the bu' ding, from entrance,that
may not be negotiable. Reis stated that he had been contact��iy an a ey who had watched
the cablecast of the February 6 meeting,raising the p�iliility th�t the ch�.c�,was being unfairly
discriminated against. f
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Hurlburt asked if the entire layout could be moved f�lier the��rtb,to allow mord space for
landscaping between the parking lot and road? �' �'> `
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Haznetty asked if the amount of paving c�.�uld be reduced nea�i t;he entrance/drop-off area, and
more planting islands added to break the p g lat up into mor�§'eetions7
Doehrmann sketched how more planting isl ds co d�ie added to�"the parking lot. There was
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discussion of how the entir�-bui�ding and paz �-g�lot coul~d be moved to the north. Some change
in the layout would pro��� �essary in or er to meet tl�e wetland setback on the west side.
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Mayor Seefeldt sta� , ��the b �,�ding and par g-l�t could be moved north by at least 50
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feet,he would probably s p rt� �__
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There w ,�ome�discussion abo� � t�ne possible approaches to landscaping the site. Planner Buss
said th�were severa�'p:t�ssible ap ��+e�that would fit the rural setting,including prairie/
gras�es or shelter belts. � <
Doehrmann�ar��l<,the comm�'ty should have specific design standards, such as in Pella, Iowa. If
the standards a�`reriiet,the pro . sal is approved even if they do not like the design. He objected
to spending money�to redesign if there is uncertainty if it will meet approval.
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Yehle said that she wants to see architecture that fits the area, and to break up the sea of parking
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in front of the building. They could bring in more sketches for feedback before preparing final
drawings.
Doehrmann asked if the City could approve the Conditional Use Permit with landscape and
lighting plans? Hurlburt said that a pernut could be approved with conditions, if the Council is
comfortable with that. She recommended conditions that would give specific direction for the
lighting and landscape plans. A grading plan,however, is needed to make sure the layout will
work.
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Special City Council Meeting
February 12,2008
Yehle said that the city has received comments from the public that the amount of lighting needs
to be minimized.
Schwarz commented on a note he had received from Planning Commissioner Christine Maefsky,
who was not in attendance at the meeting.
Pastor Reis asked why, if they can screen parking lot, why do they need to move the building at
all? The church needs to decide if it's worth the cost of redoing the plan.
Planner Buss said that the benefit of moving the building is that,it would not be quite as much in
the viewshed of people passing by, and it provides 50 more feet in�o�t for landscapin�
landform and plants to develop good screening in a natur�al,'�iore sub'stantive manner that will
help fit community better and hide more of the parking,t�t'��te�.
Mayor Seefeldt said that it would also help to mirii�i�;e height' f building and�m�ice it less
obtrusive. The plan meets the height limit but part of�s�cture�t�ller(45 ft)due)to the pitched
roof. It would accomplish a lot of same purposes as mo`vYrng��parking lot to the rear,but
without such major design changes to the church.
Schwarz stated that the church is welcom ' '�th�e�community. �'
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Doehrmann said that the next st would be� revis� th��i� �includin adin if the
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church board approves. T�h�y could prepare 'c fs on th��c�scaping and ideas for lighting.
There was discussio�n the timi��of the next m 'ting with the Planning Comxnission. On
March 5,they will rec�ive a repor0 of this special �ng. In order to provide time for the
church council to review;�e Ap�r.i�l I meeting may� best for consideration of a new plan and
possible con '�ia�al�approval,, �` �_
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The me�ing adjourne�'�C 3;08 p.r��; ,
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Respectfi�I submitted, �
Anne Hurlburt '�
City Administrator/C�k