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Design board approves Redeeming Love Church expansion; board asks staff to work on parking detail
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Summary
The Maplewood Community Design Review Board approved a design review resolution for Redeeming Love Church’s single‑story expansion at 2425 White Bear Avenue North, agreeing the applicant will work with staff on parking reconfiguration and mitigation of bird‑nesting at a new entrance.
The Maplewood Community Design Review Board on March 17 approved a design review resolution and conditional use permit amendment for Redeeming Love Church’s single‑story addition at 2425 White Bear Avenue North, subject to conditions and coordination with staff on parking and entrance details.
Staff described the project as an expansion to the former Montgomery Ward office building on a site of roughly nine acres; staff said the expansion would remodel interior sanctuary and lobby space, add an on‑grade entrance with an interior stair and ADA lift, and require a tree removal and replacement plan. The staff memo estimated that, based on the applicant’s occupancy figures, the site would require about 388 stalls; staff reported the site currently has 367 stalls and that the proposed reconfiguration would yield approximately 395 stalls.
"This sounds like the first that I heard of it," said Brad Stamp, administrative pastor at Redeeming Love Church, discussing staff recommendations about landscaping and islands. Stamp and the architect said they are mindful of snow‑plowing and maintenance constraints and noted the facilities team’s concerns about breaking up large parking bays. The architect, Dennis Matty, described bird‑mitigation measures for the entrance beams, saying metal strips can be installed to reduce nesting.
Board members debated whether to require landscaped parking islands—raising concerns about irrigation and repaving costs—and ultimately directed staff to work with the applicant to find a practicable solution rather than imposing a strict condition. A motion to approve the design review resolution, with a friendly amendment to work with staff on bird‑mitigation at the entrance, passed on a roll‑call vote.
Construction is expected to begin as early as June and to be completed by November, according to the applicant’s timeline. The board’s favorable vote is a recommendation; final approvals and building permits remain to be issued.
