The Poughkeepsie City Planning Board voted May 28 to approve site‑plan and special‑permit applications for Faith Apostolic Ministries, Inc., for an addition to the church and renovation of a youth center at 110 South Grand Avenue, subject to conditions.

Architect Michael Bertha described plans to convert a former gymnasium into a sanctuary, renovate locker rooms and add choir rooms; phase two will convert a pool into a youth center after fundraising. City staff and the board noted outstanding engineering and material‑selection items. The resolution prepared by staff requires that all city department comments be addressed to each department’s satisfaction, that a fully executed parking agreement with Temple Bethel at 118 South Grand Avenue be filed with the City Development Department, and that final materials and landscaping receive review by the city’s architectural consultant.

Why it matters: The project converts existing institutional space for expanded sanctuary and youth programming and includes a formal parking agreement with a neighboring congregation to manage shared parking use.

Board members said the project team had been responsive to engineering and zoning comments and that remaining items (materials submittal, engineering clarifications and landscaping) could be handled as conditions. A motion to approve the resolution with those conditions passed by voice vote. Project representatives said they would provide sample materials and finalize the parking agreement for filing with the city.

The board and staff also noted coordination on forthcoming South Grand Avenue streetscape improvements; staff said that public-work designs were roughly 40–60% complete.