Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cemetery Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council denies St. Victoria Church variances for setback and additional access
Summary
City Council denied two variance requests from St. Victoria Catholic Church to reduce a 30-foot front setback and add an access/parking circle for a proposed columbarium, citing on-street parking capacity and lack of a unique hardship; one council member recused themself.
The Victoria City Council voted to deny two variance requests from St. Victoria Catholic Church for property at 8228 Victoria Drive: a requested reduction of the front setback from 30 feet to 5 feet to allow approximately 40 additional burial plots, and a request to add a new access and a 17-space parking circle from Victoria Circle to provide ADA access to a proposed columbarium.
City planner Brian McCann outlined the church’s proposals, noting the site covers seven parcels (~26.5 acres) within the shoreland overlay, contains steep slopes and wetlands, and already has existing burial plots and an existing columbarium. McCann said the access variance was sought to meet ADA circulation given a steep existing grade (about a 15% slope) that makes a compliant 5% ramp difficult without significant grading; the setback variance would permit roughly 40 burial spaces measured from the front property line.
McCann also described the planning commission’s recommendation: approve the access variance but deny the setback variance because the commission found the uniqueness test unmet (the church could still construct roughly 210 burial spaces without the setback variance). McCann noted neighborhood meetings and correspondence opposing additional access or on-site parking because of traffic and neighborhood character concerns.
Council discussion focused on whether ADA needs justified creation of a new street-access parking area and whether additional on-site parking would be used for non-funeral activities. One council member disclosed membership in St. Victoria Catholic Church and recused themself from the vote for transparency. After debate, a motion to deny the two variance requests was moved, seconded and carried. The motion’s stated rationale cited available on-street parking as an alternative and concluded the church did not meet the uniqueness test for the setback variance; council declined to grant the access variance as proposed.
Next steps: the church may revise its design to pursue narrower relief or an ADA solution that relies on the existing parking and a compliant trail/ramp, or it may return with a modified application. The planning commission’s earlier recommendation to split the requests (approve access, deny setback) guided much of the discussion but the council declined both variances this evening.
