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New Brighton Planning Commission June 20, 1995 Diane Hitchcock, 2300 Rice Creek Road, asked if Salem Baptist Church intended to rent the property next door in the future. Pastor Paul Widen, Salem Baptist Church, replied Salem would like to buy the property for future planning purposes. The church may use the property for parking space. It depends upon the future expansion of the church. Hitchcock said she wanted to be sure drainage will be considered in any plans Salem may have. Gene Elwell, 2239 Rice Creek Road, stated the Salem Baptist Church Youth House has been an excellent neighbor and is the reason he is selling the house to Salem. Elwell stated he owned the property for 45 years and the drainage problem existed before Salem Church was there. Widen said the church’s vision was to reach out to young people, providing them an attractive, safe facility. Widen said he had lunch with Chief John Kelley of the New Brighton Police. Kelley said New Brighton desperately needs youth facilities. Bill McKay, Associate Pastor of Salem Baptist Church, said, at the lunch with Chief Kelley, Kelley outlined a need for community involvement from church leaders. McKay subsequently volunteered to be a chaplain for the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department. McKay said he rode along with the New Brighton Police when three fifteen year old youths were handcuffed, one of whom was armed. These kids were three gang “wannabes.” Riding along with the police underlined the need for church involvement with New Brighton’s youth. Salem has a great sense of need to become more involved with young people. The Youth Ministry needs more space to do its work. Motion by Baker, seconded by Blomquist. 6 Ayes - 0 Nays. Motion TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING Carried. Livingston asked if Salem would have to meet the new requirements for the disabled. Mattila answered it would have to comply with the ADA requirements. Ken Nelson, New Brighton Building Official, and Mark Bishop, New Brighton Fire Marshal, have spoken with church officials about code requirements. Livingston said the 1982 resolution says the church and the house would be combined into one parcel. Has that taken place? Mattila answered it had. Williams asked if the house being considered for acquisition would also be incorporated into the church parcel. Mattila answered no. It would be a separate parcel. The church would buy it on a Contract for Deed and, therefore, it could not be incorporated into the church parcel. Zisla said the 1982 resolution says “the structure shall not be physically expanded in any way and therefore maintain limited use in regard to number of users.” The Planning Commission is now making a finding that restriction is no longer necessary. Zisla wondered what was the thinking fourteen years ago when the City Council adopted the resolution. Blomquist said he was on the City Council in 1982. The City Council was concerned that the use was something new and different in the neighborhood. The Council was concerned about public uses encroaching on the residential neighborhood. The City Council put the item in the resolution to control the impact of the facility on the residential neighborhood. Blomquist said he was surprised so few neighbors of the facility were here this evening. That must mean the neighbors are comfortable with the operation of the facility and must agree that the expansion would cause no negative impact. 2 I:\COMMISSIONS\PLANNING\MINUTES\1995\06-20-95.WPD