Citing safety concerns, a conditional-use permit amendment to add 62 parking spaces and a playground at St.

Sunday, August 15, 1999

Citing safety concerns, a conditional-use permit amendment to add 62 parking spaces and a playground at St. Theodore’s Catholic Church wasn’t recommended Thursday.

In not recommending the proposal, the City Council will now consider it at its next meeting, but without a planning commission recommendation, chances for approval are slim.

The commissioners didn’t approve the amendment because of safety problems addressed by City Councilor Ron Sorenson.

&uot;I’m opposed to the plan for a number of reasons,&uot; said Sorenson, who attended Thursday’s meeting of the planning commission.

He said an entrance into the parking lot from Clark Street is unsafe because of an incline leading from Bridge Avenue to Clark Street; Bridge Avenue drivers can’t see cars turning left into the parking lot from Fountain Street.

The safety problems are worse because city plans also call for the widening of Bridge Avenue, increasing the traffic flow.

With a private elementary school at the site, Sorenson said the proposal would put children in danger.

The addition of a convenience store and two fast food stores will also increase traffic at the three-way intersection.

&uot;I have seen a near fatal there,&uot; Sorenson said. &uot;I have seen another near t-bone (accident) there. A van was nearly t-boned on a side where a child was sitting.&uot;

He said if the Clark Street entrance and exit was eliminated from the proposal, it would also eliminate a current problem with drivers using the parking lot as a shortcut bypass between Clark and Fountain streets.

&uot;I believe you’re creating a tremendous hazard by having this entrance (on Clark Street.),&uot; he said. &uot;I see no reason why you can’t have the entrance and exit on Fountain Street.

&uot;Other cars can not see what’s going on here,&uot; he added. &uot;This will create a bottleneck that will totally frustrate motorists.&uot;

With Sorenson’s advice, commissioner Doug Lined moved that the planning commission not recommend the amendment. His motion was seconded by Gary Schindler a carried a unanimous vote.