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Planning board approves Saint Mary's Church columbarium with conditions
Summary
The board approved a conditional use permit for a small columbarium to be placed on Saint Mary's Church grounds with landscaping, ADA access, setback compliance and lighting conditions; one member abstained because of church affiliation.
The Dade City Planning Board voted to approve a conditional use permit allowing Saint Mary's Church to install a columbarium on its grounds, subject to staff conditions and an added board recommendation on materials and color.
Staff described the proposal as an accessory use to the existing church: "This specific project will be integrated into the existing church grounds," staff said, noting the structure would be roughly 4 feet long, 3 feet wide and 6 feet high with about 14–15 niches. Staff recommended approval provided the applicant install perimeter landscaping as a buffer to adjacent residential uses, ensure ADA accessibility to the columbarium, use materials, colors and architectural elements consistent with the church, comply with setback requirements, use low downward‑directed lighting that complies with Florida night‑sky standards, limit any services associated with the columbarium to daytime hours, and commit to ongoing maintenance.
Residents raised questions about the proposed black finish shown in renderings and potential glare. Todd Vanderburgh, the planning consultant assisting the church, said the church and consultant had discussed alternate materials and landscaping: "We talked about the lighting and the landscaping that could be done there," he said, and the church indicated willingness to work with staff on plantings and color options. Father Teets said the church would consider available stone options and pricing when finalizing materials.
A motion to approve the conditional use permit with the staff‑recommended conditions plus a board suggestion that the church explore additional, less reflective material and color options passed; the transcript records the result as 4 in favor and 1 abstention (Rob Jennings abstained due to his church affiliation disclosure). The staff noted that any expansion beyond the approved unit would require another application and that the conditional use approval must be implemented within 12 months.
