News from the Relocation Task Force
October 2009
At its meeting in September the RTF discussed whether or not the Hopkins Methodist Church property might be a viable option for UUCM’s future home should that property come on the market.
If this property were to come on the market it would have to be evaluated by the congregation in terms of location, space requirements, cost, and potential to meet the needs for the future UUCM sees for itself as a congregation. There is a Methodist congregation in the area that may be interested in the property in which case it would not be put on the market.
Efforts continue on the process of getting the approval of the Wayzata City Council to relocate to 2030 Wayzata Blvd. East. The Board of Trustees invited UUCM’s attorney, Sam Diehl, from Gray Plant Mooty to attend the September Board meeting. Mr. Diehl presented an overview of the First Amendment civil rights protections churches are accorded under Federal law and how these are protections are relevant to UUCM's rezoning application.
The Unitarian Universalist Women West continue to maintain the garden they adopted at the corner of Crosby Road and the south frontage road of 394. UUWW members tending the garden report that each time they are working there passengers in cars thank them for the work they are doing this summer to beautify the Holdridge neighborhood.
The RTF extends a hearty thank you to UUWW for this work in support of our effort to build a positive relationship with residents of the Holdridge neighborhood.
Submitted by Christy Dachelet, Chair
July 2009
Bill McKnight and Bob and Christy Dachelet have met one on one with members of the Wayzata City Council to present alternative text amendments to the City of Wayzata zoning ordinance drafted by UUCM’s attorneys.
One proposed text amendment is broad and would allow churches to go into residential areas in general. An alternative amendment is tailored more specifically to UUCM’s project.
The response from the meetings seems to be encouraging but until there is an official discussion of the proposal by the council as a whole it will not be clear what position any member will take.
The volunteer “goodwill ambassadors”, Stephanie McCullough Cain, Jackie Smolen, Margaret Falk and Mary Cotton Levine, will be making visits to the Holdridge neighbors in mid July and August after the text amendment proposal has been shared with council members.
UU Women West Adopt-A-Garden in the Holdridge Neighborhood
Due to a serious budget shortfall this year the City of Wayzata announced an Adopt-A-Garden program whereby citizens agree to plant and maintain one or more of Wayzata’s many beautiful city gardens.
UU Women West has adopted the garden at the corner of the Wayzata Blvd. East frontage road and Crosby Road just a block east of the property UUCM hopes to build on at 2030 Wayzata Blvd East. The garden is at the entrance to the Holdridge neighborhood and very visible to all the neighborhood car and pedestrian traffic.
Many folks stopped to say “thank you” as the garden was being planted.
June 2009
In June UUCM’s goodwill ambassadors will be building relationships in the Holdridge neighborhood.
These volunteers, Mary Cotton Levin, Jackie Smolen, Stephanie Cain, Margaret Falk, Susanna Presseller and Mary Stransky will meet with residents in their homes to learn more about the community and its concerns.
Our attorneys are drafting a text amendment to the Wayzata zoning code that would allow churches to locate in R1 Residential areas. Wayzata zoning code is atypical in not allowing churches in residential areas and all surrounding communities zone churches Residential with a Conditional Use Permit.
The proposed text amendments will be presented to the City Council for consideration.
December 2008
UUCM’s application for rezoning the property at 2030 Wayzata Blvd. E. was denied by the Wayzata City Council on a 3 to 2 vote on December 16, 2008 (See Wayzata City Council Meeting Minutes and Resolution).
The council felt that while we had a strong application, the argument made by residents that approving our application would be yet another instance of the city not supporting residential neighborhoods won out. Residents in Wayzata feel under siege by development and while we argued that churches fit well in residential areas, the council was not sufficiently convinced.
Our next step will require the thoughtful consideration and discussion by the Board, the RTF and the congregation. Please watch this space for further developments or contact Christy Dachelet for more information.
