Minutes
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Rosewood Neighborhood Contact Team
Special Meeting on Redeemer Presbyterian Church Development
July 6, 2006, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Lyons Gardens

Present
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Girard Kinney, Michael Emery, Ryah Christensen, Judith Clarkson, Craig
Johnson, Dusty McCormick, Jane Rivera, and Emily Wilson.

Discussion on Redeemer Church, zoning restrictions on church building
in general, and the Featherlight property
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Girard noted that he's pretty sure that a church can operate in any
zoning district, but has to respect the building conditions applicable
to that zoning (a city law item worth checking out). Jane said that
she has encouraged Redeemer to talk to Tom Meredith about
incorporating their (unknown) building plans for the remainder of
their property with his plans to build affordable housing and higher
density mixed-use development on his property just adjacent (South) to
theirs. She also spoke of a developer named Mr. Monk who told her that
he planned to approach Redeemer about a potential land swap. Obviously
there is a lot of interest in that property, but as of yet, Redeemer
has not made public its plans about who they will be working with (if
anyone). Girard and Jane reminded the group of upcoming CAP Metro
meetings the last Saturday in July (organized by Cap Metro), and
August 5th (organized by the neighborhoods).

Discussion on neighborhood desires for the Featherlight property
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The church property (especially parking) should be available for use
during off hours. That property is too large to only be used Wednesday
night and Sunday morning; it should have an "every day mixed use" as
according to the surrounding neighborhood plans, which anticipated the
arrival of commuter rail lines into the area, and really envisioned
that property as developing according to SMART growth standards. At
the time, the neighborhood planners did not see a 40' height
restriction as an impediment to high density mixed use development
(and, it is arguable that it is an impediment now).

The neighborhood will lend its support to the church height variance
if the church can demonstrate a willingness to help create a
neighborhood out of that property, into which their church is
integrated, rather than just build a big church that stands as an
island within the surrounding neighborhoods.

Girard suggested that we request Redeemer draw a complete PUD (Planned
Use Development) site plan that basically designates and commits land
use around the whole site. Everyone present agreed.

A motion passed unanimously to formalize this request via letter. In
addition, we would supply a sketch of how we'd like the PUD to look
(something like what Girard drew up at the meeting):

(m=mixed use, P=shared parking, tt= trees, XXX=RailRoad tracks)

Manor Rd 
------------------- X
mmmmmmmmmmmm        X
mmmmm PPPPPPPPPPP   X
tttt  C H U R C H   X
tttt  C H U R C H   X
mmmmm PPPPPPPPPPP   X
mmmmmmmmmmmm        X
------------------- X
MLK Blvd

So, our wish list would be to push the church toward the center of the
lot, line the perimeter of the property with mixed use development
that shares parking with the church, and push those parking lots to
the interior of the property.

Jane volunteered to write the letter. Girard volunteered the sketch.

Meeting adjourned.