Planning Commission Agenda and Packet 2018 10 11

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SUMMARY: The applicant, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, requests approval of a Special Review Use (SRU) to allow a columbarium, classified as a Cemetery, for the property at 506 Via Appia. A columbarium is a room or wall with niches for storage of funeral urns. BACKGROUND: The City approved a one -lot subdivision plat and Planned Unit Development (PUD) and SRU for the property in 1988 to allow the initial development of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church. In 2001, the City approved an additional SRU for the property to allow an expansion to the building. The applicant initially submitted the proposal for this Special Review Use in September 2017. Following this submittal, they held a neighborhood meeting and invited residents who live within 500 feet of the church to learn more about the proposal. The neighborhood expressed concerns related to the use and the specific design of the first submittal, which located the columbarium on the southern portion of the existing church in a manner more visible than the current plans. In response, the applicant relocated the Columbarium and fully enclosed it behind the screen walls. They held a follow up neighborhood meeting on February 27, 2018 to update the residents and hear any additional concerns. All public comments received by staff are attached. Although the site plans were updated to reflect the updated proposal, the applicant forgot to update a note on the first page of the SRU plans that describes the proposal's location and other details such as landscaping. Therefore, staff has incluced a recommended condition of approval stating that the applicant update the note prior to the City Council hearing. PROPOSAL: The applicant requests approval of a Special Review Use to allow a columbarium, classified as a Cemetery Use in the Louisville Municipal Code Sec. 17.12.030. The applicant desires to construct a space exterior to the main building, but fully enclosed by a 7'-4" tall screen wall constructed of materials to match the existing building. The applicant proposes to locate the columbarium on the northeast corner of the existing building, facing Via Appia and Tyler Ave. In addition to the screen wall, the applicant also proposes upright junipers as an additional layer of screening. There is existing exterior lighting that may remain, however staff proposes a condition of approval that any new or relocated lighting be full cut-off and mounted below the top of the screen wall and shall be turned off by 9:00 pm. Access to the columbarium is only from inside the Sanctuary, with no access from the exterior through the enclosure. The niches for urns are located on the screen walls facing the existing church and are not visible from the exterior of the building. The enclosed area includes a small garden and benches for visitors. Initial plans accommodate 84 niches, with an area for an additional 42 niches. Christ the Servant SRU Page 2 of 7 PC — October 11, 2018