SR 05:244 - Laserfiche WebLink

Honorable Mayor and Member of the City Council: BACKGROUND On July 19, 2005, the City Council heard testimony from the appellants, Mr. Carl Pretzel and Mr. Philip Sayre who opposed the expansion plans of St. Clare's Episcopal Church. Representatives speaking on behalf of St. Clare's Episcopal Church included Reverend Ron Culmer, Mr. Dave Willmore and Mr. Tim Mattheis, project architect. After consideration of the four options available to the Council for a decision, Councilmember Sullivan made a motion, seconded by Mayor Hosterman to continue the item. Staff was directed to develop a consensus- building public process facilitated by an independent professional facilitator to include Church and neighborhood representatives with the goal of identifying a project mutually agreeable to both parties. Staff was also directed to provide an informational report by mid-August regarding an update on the process and to agendize this matter as a public hearing on September 6 for action by the Council. The City contracted with Ms. Arlene Willits, a communications and management consultant, who facilitated discussions between representatives from St. Clare's Episcopal Church, the neighborhood residents, and staff. As a result of this facilitation process, staffbrings to the City Council a revised master plan which is the result of the successful negotiations related to the design of the St. Clare's site. The efforts have re-designed the site providing more open space, less on-site parking, a memorial garden, assurances of no access along National Park Road, a much desired courtyard, pedestrian access from Valley Trails Drive, and a berm at the residential interface protecting the neighborhood from the potential light and noise nuisances. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Wenell, Mattheis, Bowe, Architecture and Planning, on behalf of St. Clare's Episcopal Church, has submitted a revised master expansion plan. The revised master plan before the City Council has evolved from the original plan reviewed by the City Council at its July 19, 2005 public hearing based on the facilitation process. The revised master plan includes three phases, estimated to span 25 years or more. The exact timeframe of the master plan completion would be dependent on financing by the Church membership. The Church believes that approving a master plan would provide the assurances it needs to expand in phases and to ensure that this information is available to current and future residents in the area. The first phase, expected to be constructed soon if this application is approved, is the addition to the sanctuary and the construction ora multi-propose room. Phase I is connected to, and integral with, the future Phases II and III. The second phase is a large sanctuary worship hall and expansion of the parking lot, and the third and last phase is a new administrative office. SR:05:244 Page 3