HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-00500166- 00076262 VARIANCE INFORMATION
Parking Required: The required parking for a church is 1 parking space for
every 3 seats in the main sanctuary. The existing
sanctuary does not have fixed seating, and so the
parking determination has been based on the maximum
occupancy allowed for an area of this size. The building
code specifies 7 square feet of space for each person
as the maximum occupancy for a seated area. The
seating area in the sanctuary is approximately 900
square feet, which means that it can hold approximately
128 people according to the Building Code. This would
require 43 parking spaces for the sanctuary. Parking is
also required for a proposed meeting room that is
approximately 900 S.F. 1 parking space for every 200
S.F. of meeting room is required. Parking is not
required for any of the other accessory uses. A total of
48 parking spaces are required for this church.
Parking Requested: No on site parking is planned.
Case Overview: The church was built in the 1950s as the Second Baptist
Church of College Station; at this time, on -site parking
was not required. A Conditional Use Permit was issued
in 1978 for the expansion of the facility to its existing size
with a shared parking agreement with the 707 Center.
The site currently has 3 buildings that house the main
sanctuary and the accessory uses for the church. The
church is proposing to redevelop the two original
buildings; the sanctuary will remain as it is] The
applicant states that the redevelopment will not increase
the church's membership. The actual parking
requirement is not increasing for the church because the
sanctuary will not be redeveloped. The property does not
currently have room for any on site parking, thus the
applicant is requesting a 48 parking space variance
for the church.
ANALYSIS
Special Conditions: The applicant states as a special condition: "The church
facility was built on the current location before the current
parking ordinance was implemented, There is no space
around the facility that can be used to build parking. The
new building is to replace two existing buildings which
are in bad structural condition, contain asbestos and
(are) unsightly."
Hardships: The applicant states the following as a hardship:
"Unfortunately, the church property, because of age and
location, does not have sufficient space to provide
parking. Currently parking is allowed through an
agreement with the 707 shopping center that had been in
place since 1988. Requiring the church to be in code
with regard to parking would cause a hardship on the
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congregation because it would not provide access to the
church."
Alternatives: No alternative to the variance was provided.
SPECIAL INFORMATION
Ordinance Intent: The purpose of Section 7.2 Off - Street Parking Standards
is to establish the guidelines for off - street parking spaces
consistent with the proposed land use to:
1. Eliminate the occurrence of non - resident on-
street parking in adjoining neighborhoods;
2. Avoid the traffic congestion and public safety
hazards caused by a failure to provide such
parking spaces; and
3. Expedite the movement of traffic on public
thoroughfares in a safe manner, thus increasing
the carrying capacity of the streets and reducing
the amount of land required for streets, thereby
lowering the cost to both the property owner and
the City.
Number of Property
Owners Notified: 19
Responses Received: None as of date of staff report.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
Application
Site Plan & Building Elevations
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Deborah Grace - College Station Chinese Church Page 1
al Do
From: Katy Elmendorf
To: Brett McCully; Bridgette George; Carol Amold; Chris Haver; Deborah Grace; Jane
Kee; Jennifer Prochazka; Jennifer Reeves; Jon Mies; Judy Downs; Katy Elmendorf; Kelly Templin;
Ken Fogle; Molly Hitchcock; Natalie Ruiz; Ronnie Bolin; Spencer Thompson; Susan Hazlett; Tony
Michalsky; Trey Fletcher
Date: 5/19/03
Time: 2:OOPM - 3:OOPM
Subject: College Station Chinese Church
Place: Administrative Conference Room #3
College Station Chinese Church wants to replace their old building. They want to ask question on what
all needs to be done in order to do this. They have turned in a old plan of the building and a over lay of
the new building.
CC: Administrative Conference Room # 3