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Tazewell zoning board approves New Pointe Church expansion with five-year completion condition
Summary
The Tazewell County Zoning Board approved New Pointe Church’s request to add a 100-by-60-foot Phase 2 building and additional parking, conditioning the special-use expansion on implementation within five years and subject to applicable health and permitting requirements.
The Tazewell County Zoning Board on Thursday approved New Pointe Church Incorporated’s request to expand a previously approved special use to include a planned Phase 2 addition, with a condition that Phase 2 be implemented within five years.
The approval covers a proposed 100-foot-by-60-foot building to attach to an existing pole barn and the addition of about 56 parking spaces (bringing the site total to roughly 100 parking spaces when combined with Phase 1). The project is in an A-1 agricultural preservation district and was heard as case 2514SA; because it was filed as a Class B special-use request, the zoning board had final authority.
The land use planner said staff found no conflicts with zoning or county plan goals, noted the soil quality did not meet the threshold for prime agricultural land, and reported that a traffic study submitted with the original application showed no traffic concerns for Phase 1 or Phase 2. Jackie, the county’s community development administrator, and other staff flagged that health-department approvals for wells and septic work would be required before permitting.
Pastor Barry, representing New Pointe Church, asked the board to include Phase 2 approval so the congregation could proceed with planning for Phase 1 without creating a building configuration that would preclude the future addition. ‘‘Our building committee says, ‘That’s awesome. But what about Phase 2?’’’ Pastor Barry said. He told the board the church expected Phase 2 to occur ‘‘within the next two to five years.’’
Board members discussed a staff recommendation to require Phase 2 to be implemented within five years of approval; the motion to approve the findings of fact and to grant the special-use expansion included that five-year condition and passed. The application will still need to clear the county permitting process and any required health-department reviews before construction begins.
The board recorded the motion, second and subsequent voice vote in the meeting minutes; the approval was issued with the five-year implementation condition and standard permitting and health inspections required before issuance of building permits.
Community-development staff noted the county’s permitting review — including health, septic and well approvals — will precede any construction permits, and that the five-year condition aligns with the petitioner’s stated timeline.
