Alpine Bible Church Concept

The applicant requests approval of the Alpine Bible Church concept plan located at 710 West Main Street. The proposed use is a mixture of uses with the primary use being the church building. Other uses include a playground, parking, storage, outdoor sports courts, and a caretaker building. The proposed uses fall under being permitted in the neighborhood commercial zone.

This site falls under the Urban Village Design District and is subject to the design standards for that District. Building elevations were not submitted with the concept but will need to meet the requirements.

The plan shows the main church building oriented towards the west side of the parcel with a sidewalk that connects out to Main Street. The concept shows parking on the west side of the parcels that runs the entire length from north to south. A street stub is shown to the north for future development.

The church is building is approximately 12,000 square feet with potential for a future expansion. The site also includes a 2,500 square foot storage building, 2,000 square foot caretaker building, and space for a playground and outdoor sports courts.

The church building is proposed to be set back further than the 25 foot maximum allowance per the Design Standards. Part of the reasoning for this increased setback is to have a playground near the classroom wing of the church building. The Code allows for exceptions when the standards significantly negatively impact the ability to conduct the proposed use on the property.

The DRC reviewed the proposed concept plan and had eight comments. Most of these are informational for the future site plan submittal. One comment was addressed post DRC to change refugee housing to the caretaker building. Other comments include:

1. A minimum 12' landscaped buffer and sight obscuring fence will be required along adjacent non-commercial properties (north and west). Note that this buffer increases with buildings over 20' tall. See section 12.080 in the Development code for specific and/or additional requirements regarding this buffer area. The site plan will require a minimum of 10% of the overall area to be landscaped. A minimum of 50% of the landscaping shall be water-wise as defined in the development code. Trees are required at a rate of 15 per acre, this includes street trees per every 30' of frontage. There may be no more than 24 consecutive parking stalls without a landscaped peninsula to separate them.
2. All buildings will need to meet the architectural requirements for the Urban Village Design District in Chapter 37 of the Development Code at the time of site plan.

The applicant also showed refugee housing. The Lehi City Development Code does not allow for refugee housing as part of churches. The applicant will need to propose an amendment to the Development Code to allow for the housing or remove it from their plans.