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Grace Church previews proposed ministry center; traffic study finds right‑turn lane adequate for Sunday services
Summary
Grace Church outlined plans for an 11,000‑square‑foot ministry center on 10 acres along 109th Avenue, including a 61‑space parking lot, future expansion provisions, sanitary sewer tie‑in and a traffic study recommending a right‑turn lane for Sunday service demand.
Grace Church presented concept plans for a proposed ministry center at 13809 W. 109th Ave. during the April 2 St. John Plan Commission study session, describing an initial 11,000‑square‑foot building, 61 parking spaces and utility connections with provisions for future expansion.
Attorney/representative (identified in the session as Mr. Huss) told commissioners the church currently holds services at Billy Anna Christian High School and owns roughly 10 acres north of 109th Avenue east of Calumet Avenue. “Their initial building is approximately 11,000 square feet and intends to provide 61 parking spaces,” Huss said, and noted the parcel is zoned C2 and is vacant agricultural land.
The applicant said stormwater will be addressed with a large detention basin sized for future expansion and that an eight‑inch sanitary sewer installed when a nearby Christian school connected will be extended south along the western property line in a public utility easement to serve the ministry center.
Mr. Huss said the team completed a Sunday‑morning traffic count at the Lake County Highway Department’s request and that the resulting traffic study recommended a right‑turn lane into the site rather than a left‑turn lane due to the concentrated Sunday‑morning peak for the church. “It was found that … a right turn lane in into the development was sufficient and that the need for, say, a left turn lane was unnecessary,” Huss said.
Commissioners and staff discussed jurisdictional issues on 109th Avenue; Huss said the roadway is under Lake County jurisdiction and that the applicant has coordinated with county staff. He said the team has provided study materials to town staff and the town engineer and anticipates returning with formal applications to the Plan Commission in the near future. Huss estimated construction could occur in 2026 as fundraising and final approvals progress.
The Plan Commission did not act at the study session; the church will bring formal documents and applications for review at forthcoming meetings.
