Council approves Goodwill land-development plan with condition to screen view behind Deckers Chapel

The City Council of Saint Marys approved the Goodwill land-development review (agenda item 2025-09) with a condition requiring view-shed mitigation behind Deckers Chapel.

Goodwill’s applicant representative described plans for a new site on the edge of town. Council members raised concerns about the move from a downtown location, pedestrian access and the visual impact of a steel building and a stormwater pond behind Deckers Chapel. One council member said the chapel is a historic local site often photographed by visitors and asked that the new development provide screening or landscaping so the chapel’s view-shed is preserved.

"It's one of the few historic sites that we have. Tourists do put it on their list as a must do if you're going to this area," a council member said during discussion on the record. The applicant responded that the pond area would not be left to overgrow and that landscaping could be considered; planners noted a 90-day review window from the application date but preferred to approve the application to avoid delaying the project.

Council ultimately moved to approve the application with a condition to provide "some type of view shed or coverage for behind Deckers Chapel," and the motion passed by voice vote. Council and staff discussed practical planting options (for example, fast-growing evergreen screening) and the applicant said they owned the downtown building and were preparing a project timeline.

Why this matters: The condition ties an approved land use to a mitigation measure meant to protect a locally valued historic view and to moderate the visual impact of the development on a nearby public site.

Details and context: - Project: Goodwill Land Development Review (agenda item 2025-09). - Condition added by council: provide landscaping/visual screening behind Deckers Chapel to reduce the visual impact of the new building and to screen a stormwater pond. - Timing: Planning staff noted a 90-day review period from the date of application; the applicant requested approval that night to avoid delaying the project. - Council discussion touched on parking and walkability concerns for patrons previously served from a downtown site; the applicant said the new site should be adequate and that the donor/donation handling would be part of the new facility.

Ending: Planning staff will include the view-shed/landscaping condition in the approval package and follow up with specifics on plant types, heights and maintenance requirements during permit review.