Oakdale Planning Commission Approves Church’s Conditional Use Permit Amid Traffic Concerns
- Meeting Overview:
During the recent Oakdale Planning Commission meeting, a significant topic of discussion was the approval of a conditional use permit for the Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Minnesota to establish a place of worship at the former LA Fitness site. Despite concerns about potential traffic issues, the commission approved the proposal with one condition related to wayfinding signage.
The church plans to utilize the existing 45,000 square-foot building, accommodating up to 915 congregants, although the current membership is around 700. The proposal includes maintaining 300 existing parking spaces, exceeding the required 247 for the church’s operations. The commission addressed traffic concerns, particularly at the intersection of Hemingway and 34th Street, where the absence of a left turn lane poses challenges. A traffic study suggested several measures, including a shared parking agreement with adjacent properties and potential future traffic improvements with Washington County.
The church’s attorney acknowledged traffic concerns, noting that the primary impact would be on Sundays. The church agreed to the condition of installing wayfinding signage to direct traffic and minimize congestion. The commission discussed potential adjustments, such as retiming traffic lights, but no immediate structural changes were planned.
Kevin Zabel
Planning Board Officials:
Dallas Pierson, Tom Willenbring, Christopher Campbell, Yaya Diatta, Janet Hagen, Mike McCauley, Beau Wilson, Susan Willenbring (Council Liaison), Luke McClanahan (City Planner)
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Meeting Type:
Planning Board
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Committee:
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Meeting Date:
03/06/2025
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Recording Published:
03/06/2025
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Duration:
16 Minutes
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Notability Score:
Routine
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State:
Minnesota
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County:
Washington County
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Towns:
Oakdale
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