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Paradise board approves waivers for First Congregational Church rebuild
Summary
The Paradise Advisory Board approved waivers and design review allowing First Congregational Church to demolish its aging 1971 building and construct a new place of worship on roughly 0.5 acres in the CP (commercial professional) zone, with conditions from planning staff.
The Paradise Advisory Board voted to approve waivers of development standards and design review for First Congregational Church’s planned rebuild on a roughly 0.5-acre CP (commercial professional) lot north of Russell Road and east of Horseshoe Drive in Paradise.
Board members moved to grant the waivers with preliminary staff conditions and voted in favor (vote announced as three ayes). The approvals allow the church to retain two existing driveways, request flexibility on buffering and off-site improvements, and seek reduced sidewalk/streetlight and landscaping requirements tied to long-standing, preexisting site conditions.
The church’s architect, Ken Small of SSA Architecture, said the existing 1971 building is “worn out” and that the proposed new building roughly follows the existing footprint. Small told the board the project is largely driven by preexisting conditions — including two driveways and limited lot width — and that some requested waivers respond to those constraints. He also said the church is prepared to enter a maintenance agreement for off-site landscaping.
Sam Tiavel, a church representative, described the congregation’s history at the site and asked for the board’s support, saying the facility has served neighborhood events and that current uses have caused no traffic problems in his experience. Tiavel identified the congregation’s clergy by name and noted the church’s 90th anniversary last March.
Board members questioned whether the proposed metal building and parking provision could lead to future growth and neighborhood impacts. One member said the lot “is pretty much maxed with this use” but called the proposed design a reasonable compromise for the neighborhood. Another commissioner pressed the applicants to consider how the building would fit visually next to nearby homes.
The board’s approval was subject to the standard preliminary staff conditions read into the record; the motion and vote were taken during the meeting’s public hearing for item WS250346 and recorded by the chair.
The redevelopment now moves forward under the conditions the board attached; further permitting and inspections will follow through county planning and building processes.
