PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Resolution #19-181 Granting an Interim Use Permit to a Religious Institution at 6937 Highway 10; Case of Freedom Church

The City has received an application from Freedom Church (the "Applicant") to operate Church and Parish Offices at 6937 Highway 10 (the "Subject Property"). The Subject Property is zoned H-1 Highway 10 Business District, which does not allow for churches as a permitted use. Therefore, the Applicant is seeking to be granted an Interim Use Permit to operate Church and Parish Offices on the Subject Property.

Notifications of this proposal were sent via Standard US Mail to Property Owners within 350 feet of the Subject Property, as reflected by Anoka County Property Records. A notice was also published in the Anoka Union Herald, the City's official newspaper, for the August 1, 2019 Planning Commission.

General
The Applicant is seeking to renew their Interim Use Permit to Operate Church and Parish Offices, which has been previously granted in 2012 for the use.

Zoning
The Subject Property is zoned H-1 Highway 10 Business District, as are the properties to the east and west of the Subject Property. This zoning district does not allow the operation of religious institution and parish offices as a permitted use, instead an interim use permit is required for the use to continue. Freedom Church has been operating on an Interim Use Permit since 2012. The Interim Use Permit requires renewal at this time.

Streets and Access
The Subject Property gains access off Highway 10 NW. The Applicant would utilize a shared parking lot that is also utilized by a few other businesses that also rent space in the same building. The proposed use has been found to not adversely impact traffic in the area or the community at large. Staff has not had an issue with the number of parking stalls onsite.

Alternatives:
Alternative 1: Grant an Interim Use Permit to continue the use on the Subject Property. The City has not had any major issues with the use onsite, nor complaints about the use. Staff supports this alternative. Staff is also open to alternatives that include other timeframes for the length of the interim use permit.

Alternative 1: Recommend the City Council deny the permit request. This would leave a vacant storefront in the strip mall and force out a use that the City has not had complaints about. Staff does not support this alternative.

The Applicant is responsible for all costs associated with this request.

Staff recommends approving the request for an Interim Use Permit to operate a Religious Institution on the Subject Property.

Motion to recommend City Council adopt Resolution #19-181 granting an Interim Use Permit to operate a Religious Institution on the Subject Property.