Planning commission recommends approval of Saint Thomas site plan, two variances to go to council

The Corcoran Planning Commission voted to forward a recommendation to the City Council to approve a site plan and two variances for a new Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church on County Road 10.

The church would build a roughly 14,000-square-foot structure with 102 parking stalls on the center parcel of three adjacent lots the parish owns, according to city planning staff. The site plan includes a new parking layout, a monument sign, interior landscaping and preservation of stained-glass windows to be moved from the existing church.

Kendra, planning staff, told the commission that the new building and most site elements "as shown today do comply with the code," but that the project requires conditions before building permits are issued, including updated survey work, final building design review, and Hennepin County permits for work in the county right of way. She also noted the project must address a city buffer-yard requirement…