HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 06a - Divine Encounter ChurchCity of Lakeville
Community Development
Memorandum
To : Planning Commission
Heather Botten, Senior Planner
June 16, 2025
Packet Material for the June 26, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting
Divine Encounter Church - Conditional Use Permit
August 7, 2025
Representatives of Divine Encounter Church have submitted a conditional use permit
application and plans for a religious institution to be located at 17685 Juniper Path. The
Church is proposed to occupy 2,385 square feet of an existing 36,623 square foot, multi-tenant
building. The subject property is zoned C-3, General Commercial District. Section 11-73-7.N
of the Zoning Ordinance allows religious institutions by conditional use permit subject to
certain criteria to be addressed further in this planning report.
The following exhibits are attached for your reference:
A. Aerial Location Map
B. Zoning Map
C. Applicant’s Summary Narrative
D. Floor Plan
Surrounding Land Uses, Zoning, and Comprehensive Plan Designation
Direction Existing Use Land Use Plan Zoning
North Multi-Tenant Commercial Commercial C-3, General Commercial
South Southfork Apartments High Density RH-1 Multiple Family
East Juniper Commons Commercial PUD
West Undeveloped Property Medium-High Density RM-3, Medium Density
The subject property consists of a 36,623 square foot office building; the proposed church
would utilize about 2,385 square feet of the building. The property is 3.19 acres in area and
consists of a 154-space parking lot to accommodate the lease spaces in the building. The
proposed religious institution has been reviewed for compliance with Zoning Ordinance
performance standards for a conditional use permit.
The applicant submitted a narrative (Exhibit C) of the proposed church
and its related activities. Staff has reviewed the narrative and has determined that the activities
indicated are compatible with the proposed site.
The existing office site includes a 154-space parking lot. The church anticipates
approximately 50 attendees for weekly Sunday worship services. Other planned activities
include weekly meetings as well as special services, workshops, and events help throughout the
year. Existing parking on site is adequate to accommodate the church’s parking demand.
A wall sign for the church would not be permitted as the lease space is not at more than
20% of the net lease space of the building. The site does have a freestanding sign.
Section 11-4-7 of the Zoning Ordinance includes general performance standards for the
evaluation of conditional use permit requests. Staff’s review of the applicable criteria as they
pertain to the conditional use permit request of Divine Encounter Church is as follows:
The subject site accesses Juniper Path, which connects to Kenwood Trail (CSAH 50) and
has sufficient capacity to serve the proposed use.
No changes are proposed to the existing parking lot.
Not applicable
The church anticipates an average attendance of 50 people. The Zoning Ordinance
requires that churches provide parking at a ratio of one parking space for each three seats
of the capacity of the main assembly hall. The Zoning Ordinance requires 17 parking
spaces. Vehicle parking for the church use shall not occur on any public street.
A loading area is not applicable for the proposed church.
The Church is located within an existing structure; no additional landscaping is required.
The building and parking lot are existing; no additional landscaping is required.
There are no changes proposed to lighting on the parcel. Lighting is allowed by the Zoning
Ordinance but it must be down-cast type lighting and shall not glare onto adjacent
properties. Lighting is not allowed to exceed one foot candle of intensity at any property
line.
The applicants have not indicated that any outdoor services or other formal gatherings
will occur outside the building. No outdoor sound amplification is permitted. Noise is
restricted to the thresholds allowed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Not applicable. There are no proposed changes to the footprint of the building or to the
parking lot.
There is no proposal to increase or modify the outside dimensions or appearance of the
building
Not applicable; trash and recycling service is handled by the existing building.
No identifying signage is proposed with this conditional use permit. If signage is
proposed at a later date, it would be required to be in compliance with Zoning Ordinance
requirements.
This provision shall be a stipulation of the conditional use permit.
No business licenses are required for the proposed church use.
The proposed days and hours of assembly occupancy are considered compatible with the
other uses in the building.
There are no other known zoning non-conformities with the property or building.
Community Development staff has reviewed the Divine Encounter Church conditional use
permit application and plans and has determined that the request meets Zoning Ordinance
requirements and therefore recommends approval subject to the following stipulations:
1. The floor plan shall be consistent with the plan and narrative described in the application
and approved by the City Council to ensure compliance with Zoning Ordinance
requirements.
2. A building permit shall be issued prior to commencing interior alterations on the
building interior that require a permit.
3. Signs shall require a sign permit and must meet Zoning Ordinance requirements.
4. Parking shall be restricted to the on-site parking lot and shall not occur on any public
street.
5. Any cumulative increase of more than 20% in the lease space of 2,385 square feet
requires an amendment to the conditional use permit.
Findings of fact for approval of the conditional use permit request are attached.
1
CITY OF LAKEVILLE
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
DIVINE ENCOUNTER CHURCH CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
FINDINGS OF FACT AND RECOMMENDATION
On June 26, 2025 the Lakeville Planning Commission met at their regularly scheduled meeting to
consider the request of Divine Encounter Church for a conditional use permit to allow a religious
institution use in the C-3, General Commercial District located at 17685 Juniper Path. The
Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on the proposed conditional use permit
preceded by published and mailed notice. The applicant was present and the Planning
Commission heard testimony from all interested persons wishing to speak.
1. The property is located in Comprehensive Planning District No. 1, which guides the
property for Commercial Use.
2. The property is zoned C-3, General Commercial District.
3. The legal description of the property is:
4. Section 11-4-3E of the City of Lakeville Zoning Ordinance provides that a conditional
use permit may not be issued unless certain criteria are satisfied. The criteria and our
findings regarding them are:
Finding: The proposed religious institution use is consistent with the policies and
provisions of Planning District 1 of the 2040 Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
.
2
Finding: The proposed religious institution use is compatible with the existing land uses
in the area provided compliance with the stipulations of the conditional use permit.
.
Finding: The proposed religious institution use will conform with all performance
standards set forth in the Zoning Ordinance given compliance with the approved
conditional use permit.
Finding: The proposed use will not overburden the City’s sanitary sewer and water systems
and can be served with existing public services.
Finding: Traffic generation will not significantly increase due to the proposed religious
institution and can be accommodated by the adjacent public streets.
5. The planning report dated June 16, 2025 prepared by Heather Botten, Senior Planner is
incorporated herein.
The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the conditional use
permit conditioned upon compliance with the planning report prepared by Senior Planner,
Heather Botten dated June 16, 2025.
Dated: June 26, 2025
LAKEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION
BY: ___________________________
Christine Zimmer, Chair
Dakota County, Maxar, Microsoft
City of Lakeville
Location Map
Divine Encounter
Church CUP
EXHIBIT A
Site Location
KENRICK
A
V
E
JUNIPER PATH
KE
N
W
O
O
D
T
R
L
(
C
S
A
H
5
0
)
City of Lakeville
Zoning Map
Divine Encounter
Church CUP
EXHIBIT B
Site Location
PUDC-3
RH-1
KENRICK
A
V
E
JUNIPER PATH
KE
N
W
O
O
D
T
R
L
(
C
S
A
H
5
0
)
C-3
C-3
C-3
C-3
C-3
RM-3
±
EXHIBIT C
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE SPACE
17685 JUNIPER PATH, SUITE 301, LAKEVILLE, MN 55044 FLOOR PLANS
For more information,
please contact:
Rocky Ranch
952.583.6135
rockyr@cerron.com
AVAILABLE SPACE
EXHIBIT D