04-19-2007 Planning Commission Minutes

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1. The proposed use is an appropriate conditional use in the Commercial District as a funeral home is classified as a commercial use, being that it provides services to the community. 2. The proposed use does not conflict with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The Plan discusses the role of the professional and service sectors within the community, but does not contain any specific policy statements regarding this type of use. One identified action within the Plan (p. 41) directs the City to encourage businesses in the professional/service sector to locate on the perimeter of the downtown in order to facilitate more space for retail directly in downtown. The proposed service business is located just south of the core downtown area. 3. The proposed use, with conditions, would be compatible with the existing neighborhood as most of the surrounding properties are undeveloped, with a landscape nursery to the northwest and a car wash to the north of Pillsbury Street. 4. The proposed use would not be injurious to the public health, safety, or welfare as funeral homes typically do not carry out activities that are detrimental to the public. 5. The proposed use is unlikely to be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other properties in the immediate vicinity, as the services provided by the proposed use would be held within the confines of the building and the proposed use is located within a commercial district. 6. The proposed use should not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of surrounding vacant properties. There are no additional public services or facilities required for the development of this property. 7. The applicant proposes to access this property from Lilac Drive. On days when funerals are held, there will be impacts on local traffic as funeral attendees travel to and from the funeral home and cemetery. These local traffic impacts will be occasional, and not contribute to the overall daily traffic load on Lilac Drive, Pillsbury Street, and State Highway 371. 8. The applicant proposes to construct 42 parking spaces on the property to serve the staff and patrons. The Ordinance requires one space for every four seats of capacity in the funeral home. With 42 proposed parking spaces, the funeral home could have a maximum capacity of 168 occupants, while the applicant proposes 110 seats in the chapel area of the business. 9. The proposed parking stalls meet the minimum dimension requirements, being ten feet wide and 20 feet in length. 10. The applicant has placed the majority of the parking spaces to the side of the building, with seven spaces in front of the building. The Ordinance requires that all parking be placed to the side or the rear of the building. 11. The applicant has proposed to maintain existing vegetation along the perimeter of the property, supplementing the northern boundary with additional trees for screening. Trees and vegetation along the eastern portion of the property are also proposed to be maintained. The proposed use of vegetation should provided the required 50% screening required from the road or any non-residential parcel in the area. Planning Commission Minutes 4 April 19, 2007