Zoning board unanimously backs Maranatha Assembly of God's expansion and removes 10-year expiration from CUP

The McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals voted 7-0 to approve an amendment to a conditional use permit for Maranatha Assembly of God that allows an expansion of the church building at 2505 North Ringwood Road in McHenry. The board also amended the staff-proposed condition that would have set a 10-year expiration for the conditional use; the board replaced that condition with language making the permit unlimited in duration "unless its use is abandoned." The item will be forwarded to the McHenry County Board for final action on Oct. 21.

Cameron Ward, lead pastor at Maranatha Assembly of God, told the board the expansion is intended to address accessibility and capacity issues and to create an "equipping and training center" for ministry and small-group leaders. "We are just excited about the community and what the Lord's doing," Ward said. He told the board…