7/5/2011
Honorable Mayor and Councilors
City Manager
City Attorney
Clerk of Council
Subject: (EXCP 4-11-11712) Special Exception Use request for a place of worship on less
than two acres located at 3615, 3619 and 3623 Gentian Blvd.
Perrin Nicolson, on behalf of The Korean Methodist Church, has submitted an
application for the Special Exception Use cited above. The place of worship is
located at 3615, 3619, and 3623 Gentian Boulevard. The property is located in
an NC (Neighborhood Commercial) zoning district. The entire site encompasses
approximately 1.21 acres. Please reference the site plan for building
locations. The applicant has indicated that worship services will be held in
Building 2. In referencing the site plan, Buildings 3 and 5 will be demolished
in order to make space for more parking:
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Access. - Is or will the type of street providing access to the use be adequate to serve the proposed special exception use?
Gentian Boulevard is classified as a major arterial with 5 lanes to include a
turning lane that will provide adequate access for the proposed use. The
driveway/access entering the site shall be improved in order to accommodate the
flow of traffic during the hours of service for the use. A decel lane will not
be required for this location.
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Traffic and Pedestrian Safety. - Is or will access into and out of the property be adequate to provide for traffic and pedestrian safety, the anticipated volume of traffic flow, and access by emergency vehicles?
The site plan indicates two ingress/egress points, which maintains
adequate flow of traffic to and from the subject properties. The proposed use
will utilize their properties at 3619 and 3623 Gentian Boulevard primarily for
off ?street parking, which will contribute to pedestrian safety and easy
access for emergency vehicles.
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Adequacy of Public Facilities. - Are or will public facilities such as schools, water or sewer utilities, and police or fire protection be adequate to serve the special exception use?
Services such as water, sewer, utilities, police, and fire protection
will be adequate and serve the proposed use at this location. Furthermore,
there will be no impact on neighboring schools in the immediate area.
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Protection from Adverse Affects. - Are or will refuse, service, parking and loading areas on the property be located or screened to protect other properties in the area from such adverse effects as noise, light, glare or odor?
Although the Unified Development Ordinance does not require a buffer for the
proposed use, the applicant is preserving the existing vegetation in order to
maintain a buffer from neighboring properties. As indicated in the site plan
parking will be located to the side and rear of Building 2 which houses the
sanctuary. Parking requirements, loading zones, external dumpsters/compactors
design and location standards are addressed in Chapter 4, General Development
Standards, of the UDO. The aforementioned development requirements will have
to be met prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. The applicants will
also have to adhere to Section 14, Article V, Noise, as addressed in the City
Code of Ordinances. The site will adhere to the lighting standards in Chapter 4
of the Unified Development Ordinance.
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Hours of Operation. - Will the hours and manner of operation of the special exception use have no adverse effects on other properties in the area?
The hours of operation for this use will not have an adverse impact on the
neighboring properties in the area. All of the neighboring properties are
commercial operations that operate primarily Monday through Friday. The church
will host worship services on Sunday from 11 AM until 12 PM. Fellowship
services will be from 12 PM until 2 PM.
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Compatibility. - Will the height, size or location of the buildings or structures on the property be compatible with the height, size, character or location of buildings or other structures on neighboring properties?
The height, size, and location of the buildings are compatible with the height,
size, character, and location of buildings on neighboring properties. Building
1 is currently being used as a business office. The applicant has indicated
should the business office cease operations the Church will place its
administrative offices in the building. Building 2 is a 3,500 SF building that
will host worship services and hold the fellowship hall. Building 2 will not be
altered in order to accommodate any Church activities or services. Building 4
is currently vacant and will be used for Church related storage. Buildings 3
and 5 are storage buildings, which the applicant has indicated intentions for
demolishing them in order to accommodate for additional parking.
Council District: District 5 (Baker)
Thirteen (13) property owners within 300 feet of the property were notified by
mail of the proposed Special Exception Use. To date, the Planning Department
has not received any comments in opposition to this request.
The Planning Advisory Commission recommended approval at the May 4, 2011
meeting.
The Planning Department recommends that the Council approve the use because the
application for a Special Exception use meets the criteria for approval.