Agenda - Planning Commission - 10/01/1991

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CASE REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ESTABLISH PROFESSIONAL OFFICES AND DAYCARE FACILITIES IN THE R-1 RURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AT 6139 157TH LANE N.W.; CASE OF NORTHERN COUNTIES SECRETARIAL SERVICES By: Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik Background: Northern Counties Secretarial Services has applied for a conditional use permit to establish professional offices and daycare facilities in the R-1 Rural Residential District. The structure proposed to house these uses is that which is soon to become the former Lord of Life Church structure at 6139 157th Lane N.W. The structure is 6,900 square feet in size. As I am sure you recall, Lord of Life recently obtained a rezoning and site plan approval to construct a new church facility further south on Nowthen Blvd. Northern Counties Secretarial Services has entered into a purchase agreement with Lord of Life for the existing church structure. This purchase agreement is contingent upon Northern Counties Secretarial Services successfully obtaining a conditional use permit from the City to establish professional offices and daycare facilities in the structure. Northern Counties Secretarial Services has indicated that they would be making a substantial investment in the former Lord of Life structure. In addition, they hope that they will find it necessary to expand their operations in the future. However, under current City Code regulations, to expand a conditional use permit would require reapplication and the risk of denial, thereby risking their initial investment in the property. Therefore, in an attempt to protect their initial investment, the applicant is proposing that if their request for a conditional use permit is approved at this time, that it be inclusive of any expansions that would bring their total building size up to 22,000 square feet. Northern Counties is of the opinion that their request is reasonable based on the fact that the 1973 site plan presented to the Township for the construction of the Lord of Life Church did reflect that future expansions of the building were projected. Northern Counties feels that the 1973 site plan would not have been approved by the Town Board if there was opposition to future expansion on the property. I should note at this time that I have not been able to find any documentation in the City's records regarding a site plan review or conditional use permit for the Lord of Life Church in 1973. I would also like to note at this time that in 1988, the City issued a conditional use permit for a temporary structure at the Lord of Life site. The conditional use permit was issued to assist Lord of Life in their space needs until they expanded their building. That conditional use permit was to expire at the time the new sanctuary was completed or on June 30, 1993, whichever came fa'st. However, Lord of Life has revised their plans and will be relocating versus expanding. Their purchase agreement with Northern Counties Secretarial Services indicates that they'will have the temporary structure removed from the property by May 1, 1992, the date on which they hope to take occupancy of the new church. The City does have $500 on deposit from Lord of Life Church to guarantee the removal of the temporary structure.