CCP 05-27-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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" .. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - MAY 7, 2003 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS . A. PLANNING CASE #03-10 - NORTH HEIGHTS LUTHERAN CHURCH. 1700 W. HIGHWAY 96; CONCEPT PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT Chair Sand opened the public hearing at 7 :06 p.m. Staff stated applicants were requesting a Concept Planned Unit Development review. The proposed POO would involve the addition of a 4,000-seat sanctuary, administration offices, youth activities rooms, a chapel, and a retreat center. Staff requested the Commission's eomments relative to the applicant's Concept Planned Unit Development. Chair Sand invited anyone for or against the Concept Plan to come forward and make comment. Greg Anderson, applicant for Anderson Builders, stated a neighborhood meeting had been scheduled on April 28 but no neighbors attended the meeting. Commissioner Zimmerman inquired about the landscaping. He expressed concern about a barren look to the property and suggested more significant landscaping than what was currently being proposed. Randall Tweeden, URS, summarized the landscape plan for the Commission. He stated . there was an extra large island at the end of the parking lanes, as well as additional landscaping within the aisles. Commissioner Zimmerman noted it was a very visible comer within Arden Hills and stated he wanted this to be viewed as a business within a residential area. Commissioner Ricke asked what would happen with the fox den that was located where they were intending to expand the parking lot. Randall Tweeden replied they intended to maintain as much of the natural vegetation as possible and augment it with additional landscaping. Commissioner Ricke expressed concern about the natural areas being eliminated for parking. She also expressed concern about additional traffic. She asked if they moved the entrance to the east, how would that affect the right turn lane. She expressed concern about the additional traffic on North Snelling. Randall Tweeden replied there had been a traffic study done and it took into account two different scenarios for the church and the consequences once the site was developed. He stated the access off of Highway 96 would be moved to the location shown on the plan. He indicated some of the traffic concems would be addressed with the reconstruction of Highway 96. Mr. Hellegers stated the church had worked with the County for the relocation of the entrance and the curb-cuts which be worked into the plan with the County. He indicated during large events, the church would have traffic officers controlling the traffic, which . would alleviate some of the traffic eoncerns. He stated in the future, the plan was to have a signal at their main entrance/exit on Highway 96. He suggestcd applicant might be able to pull away some of the parking from North Snelling and relocate it towards the other end of the development, but that would entail some type of a parking structure.