Lakeville neighbors crowd meeting to protest parking lot plan | SunThisweek.
Despite neighbors’ concerns, the Lakeville Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a church group’s plans to convert a residential home into a church building, and per city code, build a 14-stall parking lot.
The commission, on a 5-2 vote, also recommended the Lakeville City Council deny Minneapolis Meeting Rooms Inc. (Plymouth Brethren Christian Church) a variance to the city’s sideyard setback requirement of 30 feet, in part because they did not think it was a significant hardship.
Plymouth Brethren Christian Church member Tom Chellberg said the zoning requirement detail was overlooked, and church member Jerry Holman said without the variance, they would have to remove part of the building’s garage, making it hard to resell and adding expenses to the approximately $250,000 to $300,000 of remodeling work planned for the home.
The group plans to remove walls in the 1970 home, located on a corner lot at 9880 192nd Street, to allow space for a maximum of 40 people.
Lakeville City Council members will make the final decision about the Plymouth Brethren Church’s plan at its Aug. 5 meeting.
Holman said although they built a larger church building in a residential neighborhood on Idaho Avenue in 2011, they prefer to meet in smaller groups for worship and the Lord’s Supper.
He said the congregation includes about 100 members, and they plan to expand in Lakeville as the church grows.
The group’s plan for the residential home concerns neighbors who filled half the City Council chambers at a July 25 Planning Commission public hearing about the proposal.
Residents cited issues about the aesthetics of putting a parking lot in a residential area, declining property values, increased traffic, safety, and the potential for the unlit parking lot to create problems in the neighborhood.
They also presented a petition against the project signed by 59 neighbors asking that city officials reject the plans, in part predicting the parking lot would be “a blight to the surrounding residential areas.”
Neighbor Lawrence Schweich questioned how 14 parking stalls would be enough to accommodate a building that has room to fit 40 people, and Monica Carlson questioned why the church group was not seeking a more industrial area to build.
“I’m really struggling with this,” she said.
Jennifer Hansen said the back of her home will face the front of the new site; she raised questions about how the property would be maintained.
Tom Garncarz said the parking lot is proposed at a road that is the main entrance and exit to their home.
“I’m concerned about the economic value of my property,” he said. “The first thing people will see when they turn into my neighborhood is a parking lot.”
There were also questions about the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church itself, which Holman described to Sun Thisweek as “exclusive,” noting the church is made of families who practice separation from people outside their religion.
Several of the neighbors said at the hearing that they support churches and attend church, but questioned why a church would seek to meet in a home located in a residential neighborhood.
Tom Garncarz told Planning Commission members, “I support people who want to support their faith, but you’re dropping it right dead smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood.”
Blain Eggum said they moved into the neighborhood because the development offers a rare opportunity to live on acreage while in the middle of the city.
There are large lots in the area, and some can be subdivided to build another home.
“I object to the fact that there’s a parking lot in this setting,” Eggum said, stating that the plans would “take away everything … we moved here for.”
Florence Vork agreed, calling it “ridiculous” to put a parking lot in the middle of a residential neighborhood, and Robert Lane asked what criteria is used to identify the organization as a church.
“I’m not sure I’d call this a church,” Lane said. “It’s a meeting room.”
City attorney Roger Knutson said Minneapolis Meeting Rooms Inc. meets the legal description of a church, which includes having a creed or doctrine, form of worship and distinct religious history.
Plymouth Brethren Church member Chellberg said the church has existed for years; according to the Minnesota Secretary of State, Minneapolis Meeting Rooms first filed as a domestic nonprofit corporation in 1956.
Chellburg told Planning Commission members the home will only be used for quiet worship activities, addressing some neighbor concerns that the property could eventually become a homeless shelter our soup kitchen.
He said the church members have been in Lakeville for six years, will be good neighbors, and will maintain the property.
Their church building on Idaho Avenue has a manicured lawn and no signs on the property, and Lakeville police reported there have been no calls to their property.
Holman said their church does not advertise, prefers private worship and its members street preach downtown.
He said they do not have an individual website, but directed anyone interested in finding out more about them to visit www.plymouthbrethrenchristian.org.
Chellburg said they plan to use the building twice weekly, and traffic will be minimal.
Dempsey said the church building is expected to generate 50-60 trips per week, fewer than the 70 trips per week typically generated by a single family home.
The comments did little to appease neighbors concerns.
Five-year Lakeville resident Kerry Singh received applause when she asked commission members to reflect on all the people who have written and spoken in opposition to the parking lot.
“So many people are against these plans,” she said. “Not the people, just the plans.”
City Planner Frank Dempsey said Lakeville zoning allows religious institutions in residential districts.
Lakeville takes efforts to ensure the different use is compatible with the neighborhood, and Dempsey described some of the 18 stipulations ultimately recommended for the project, including the installation of landscape screening to visually buffer the parking lot and the removal of the parking lot if the building were no longer used as a religious institution.
Although the city does not regulate church hours, multiple stipulations were recommended with the proposed plans, including banning the church property from being used for commercial or residential purposes.
Stipulations also mandate daily litter control and requires the property use to comply with any federal, state or county regulations.
Wall signs are not allowed on the property, and any future expansion of the building or parking lot would require a conditional use permit.
The site plan shows four additional parking spaces may be constructed in the future, and one of the project’s recommended stipulations also bans any church parking on any public street.
In denying the group a setback variance, most Planning Commission members said the group was knowledgeable about the city’s code when it purchased the property.
In seeking the variance, Chelberg said they had missed the provision.
Following the meeting, Holman said he respects the city officials, the process and the neighbors, noting they would be good neighbors.
“It’s human nature to say not in my back yard,” Holman said, adding that their presence, and they way they keep their properties does not decrease the value of any surrounding properties.
Planning Commission Chair Brooks Lillehei said he appreciated all the comments.
“I hope you continue to live here and prosper here, and recognize that the majority also spoke to the religious freedoms we have and that we celebrate in this great United States,” Lillehei said.
Residents who spoke at the meeting afterward expressed frustration that the Planning Commission recommended the project, and several said they felt their concerns were not heard.
Many said they would continue to pursue the issue with the Lakeville City Council.
