Planning board approves Grace Baptist Church expansion at 280 East Lincoln with conditions

The Birmingham Planning Board on April 9, 2025 approved a special land use permit and the final site plan and design review for Grace Baptist Church’s renovation and addition at 280 East Lincoln, voting to grant both items by roll call with the motions moved and seconded and all members present voting yes.

Planning staff described the revised proposal as a renovation that removes about 2,195 square feet of the existing building and adds 4,180 square feet, increasing the building footprint to about 8,682 square feet. Nick, planning staff, said the parking layout was revised since the March 26 meeting and “they are meeting the parking requirement exactly at 44 spaces,” down from 49 shown in an earlier plan. The staff report said the revised design connects the north and south portions of the lot with a one-way access drive so vehicles entering the south lot from Edgewood can exit onto Lincoln via the north lot; staff and the applicant described that change as a response to board concerns about vehicular circulation.

The board and staff flagged two…