Minutes 06/14/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 14. 2005 It is clear that a church applicant and any non-profit organization must meet all local requirements that are routinely imposed that include but not limited to: -Minimum Acreage and Occupancy limitations -Trash pickup -Water and sewage hook ups -Fire safety Summary: Evaluation and recommendation by Staff to the Planning Commission and now to this City Council Through the application it is clear that: 1-the applicant proposes to reopen or to reestablish a church located at 812 Washington Street; through this action, the applicant is aware the building is no longer a church. 2-the former use as a church lost its nonconforming status because the Building has been vacant for more than two years - in fact somewhere between 7 and 1 0 years 3-the building formerly used as a church - must meet all guidelines established for certain membership organizations, Religious institutions and certain Social Services Lot size Trash disposal Public utilities Traffic and parking Landscaping 4-the attorney's letter of June 9th does NOT prove a denial of the application would be in violation of any law but rather is vague and does not lend support to a practice the City Council has relied upon by respected and responsible leadership of appointed members of the Planning Commission over a number of years. We rely upon the Policies of many appointed Boards and Commissions and do not consider them as inferior bodies. Staff failed to incorporate within their evaluation that once a grandfather use has expired, the applicant must meet all of the basic requirements imposed upon it for the specific use Staff failed to incorporate in its evaluation and recommendation that over the past six years, City Council has denied seven use permits for the establishment of a church based the minimum two acre requirement- the most recent was from Rev Lang to construct a church on Portsmouth Blvd Finally, while parking does not constitute a major issue, Staff failed to address its impact or otherwise investigate remedies. Clearly the nonconforming use and its associated grandfather expired and the former church is a building. A colleague made a public statement that he is bound to do the right thing - then the right thing is to deny the application, which will be consistent with the seven such actions taken by City Council over the past six years. A vote to approve sends a message that City Council did not follow the law and regulations in the past.