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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, March 03, 2010 Page 4 145 Community Development Director Patrick Trudgeon clarified that, under the guidance of 146 new Comprehensive Plan, and proposed rezoning toward Regional Business areas, this 147 type of use is not supported in an area proposed for large-scale businesses. Mr. 148 Trudgeon noted that, if the request was granted to consider a Zoning Text Amendment 149 for this type of use in Regional Business Districts, it would impact a broader scale than 150 this one request. Mr. Trudgeon cautioned the Commission that this type of use does not 151 fit in the Comprehensive Plan schemes and guidance along the interstate, and would be 152 akin to spot zoning. 153 Applicant Representatives st 154 Ron Wong, 2340 East 121 Street; Burnsville, MN, Chair of Trustee Committee at 155 Twin City Chinese Christian Church (T4C) 156 Mr. Wong thanked staff for guiding the church through the application process and areas 157 of the zoning code. Mr. Wong, as a twenty-year member of the church, opined that T4C 158 truly cared about its people and had a great sense of community, while building strong 159 families who in turn built strong communities. Mr. Wong briefly reviewed the history of this 160 non-denominational Christian church, established more than fifty (50) years ago, and the 161 largest of its kind in a five (5)-state area. Mr. Wong advised that the church’s current 162 location was in Lauderdale, MN with congregational meetings held twice/week on Sunday 163 and Friday, with other assorted ad hoc events occurring during the week. Mr. Wong 164 advised that the current attendance was approximately five-hundred (500); and that the 165 congregation had a composition with three (3) separate language-specific dialects. Mr. 166 Wong noted that the trend for the Chinese congregation was to be drawn to higher 167 learning institutions, and that they had been searching for a suitable site for over seven 168 (7) years, and that given the proximity of this site to the University of MN, this site 169 matched their search criteria in many ways. 170 Mr. Wong displayed a Preliminary Site Plan, proposed accessibility and amenities; and 171 opined that this would be a great addition to the City of Roseville; and with the central 172 location would provide good access to their congregation from throughout the 173 metropolitan area, in addition to resolving parking and traffic issues being experienced at 174 their current site, as well as other negative implications for a traditional neighborhood. 175 Thomas Peterson, Station 19 Architects, 2001 University Avenue SE, Mpls, MN 176 Mr. Peterson reviewed his firm’s past experience specializing in church architecture; and 177 their work over the last several years with the T4C before this site became available for 178 purchase. Mr. Peterson reviewed the feasibility of such a use, even though not permitted 179 at this time, based on the needs of the church; direct access to I-35 and collector streets; 180 size of the site providing sufficient parking for a regional church; site-specifics and 181 proposed improvements with little investment other than for stormwater treatment; 182 accessibility of the current church from the main level for all entries; and other uses that 183 could be allowed in a B-3 District if not labeled as a “church,” but with similar gathering 184 functions. Mr. Peterson asked that the Commission consider this “friendly correction” to 185 City Code as part of the rewrite of the current code, with many of those permitted uses 186 part of the hospitality ministry of the church. Mr. Peterson referenced the City’s Imagine 187 Roseville 2025 visioning process and supporting diverse cultures in the community, and 188 how this use would fit with that vision, even though the Comprehensive Plan seemed to 189 be mute on locating churches. Mr. Peterson noted that the cost of redeveloping this site 190 for a new use versus developing on a new site was more cost-effective, and would be 191 funded entirely by the church membership without any public incentives or monies, as a 192 private entity investing in a currently vacant building, providing a service to the 193 community, in addition to an auditorium that could accommodate public gatherings. 194 Jeff LeFavre, Integrus Development Group, 3116 Chelsea Court, Burnsville, MN 195 From his Real Estate and Development perspective, Mr. LeFavre reviewed the long-time 196 regional search throughout the metropolitan area for an acceptable site based on traffic 197 patterns and location requirements; opining that a commercial area seemed to be the 198 best fit. Mr. LeFavre reviewed the current automobile industry in this economy, and cities 199 concerned with long-term vacancies of buildings such as this. Mr. LeFavre opined that