PUBLIC HEARING:  Request for an Interim Use Permit to Allow for the Operation of a Church in the H-1 Highway 10 Business District on the Property Located at 6937 Highway 10 NW Suite 160; Case of Freedom Christian Church

The City has received an application from Freedom Christian Church to renew an Interim Use Permit for the operation of church facility in an area zoned H-1 Highway 10 Business District. The temporary church facility is in a multi-tenant building located at 6937 Hwy 10. The Applicant is currently operating at this site with a three (3) year interim use permit that is set to expire at the end of June, 2012. 

In accordance with State Statute and City Code, Staff attempted to notify all property owners within 350 feet of the Subject Property of the Public Hearing via Standard US Mail. A Notice of Public Hearing was also published in the Anoka County Union.

The Applicant is utilizing 5,500 square feet of the building located at 6937 Hwy 10 for a worship area as well as for offices, classrooms, lunchroom and bathrooms. The Applicant's original proposal in 2009 stated that they hoped to grow to about 150 members at this location and would then begin actively looking for a property in Ramsey to construct a permanent facility.  The Applicant has stated that presently, membership hasn't grown as desired and is still at about seventy-five (75) people for their larger service (Sunday morning).

The property is located in the H-1 Highway 10 Business Zoning District, which does not expressly permit churches or other places of worship. The H-1 Highway 10 Business Zoning District does allow for offices as a permitted use. The Applicant is requesting the interim use permit for the full five (5) years permitted by City Code.  

The activities offered by the Applicant mainly occur on Sundays, with a service in the morning and a service in the evening.  There is also some evening activities, most notably a weekly bible study on Wednesday evenings with attendances typically ranging between fifteen (15) and thirty (30) people.  There are two existing tenants in the building, Fastenal and B & B Carpet, both of which are closed on Sundays. Thus, the use appears to be compatible with the surrounding area and the additional activities do not appear to conflict with the existing businesses. 

As part of the 2009 Interim Use Permit, the parking lot was re-striped to provide 110 parking stalls, including four (4) handicap spaces.  As previously noted, the Sunday morning service, which is the most attended, has a combined attendance of about seventy-five (75) people and the hope is that that number will grow to about 150 people.  Under City Code, places of assembly require a parking space for every three seats. Therefore, a total of fifty (50) parking stalls would need to be provided to meet the built out requirement for 150 people.  There appears to be sufficient parking to accommodate both the church operation as well as the other building tenants. 

Due to the fact that the property is on Highway 10, Staff did forward the request to MnDOT for review.  MnDOT has stated that they have no concerns related to this request.

The Applicant is responsible for all City costs incurred in administering and enforcing this Permit.

The Applicant has been operating at this site now for approximately three (3) years and there have not been any issues/concerns raised by any of the other tenants or related to parking.  Therefore, staff recommends approving the interim use permit for a term of five (5) years.

Motion to recommend that City Council adopt Resolution #_______ adopting Findings of Fact relating to the request for an Interim Use Permit.

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Motion to recommend that City Council adopt Resolution #________ approving the request for an Interim Use Permit and declaring the terms as proposed.