Council grants special permit allowing Genesis Community Church to use nearby lots for off‑street parking with conditions

The Reuben City Council on July 15 granted a special permit to Genesis Community Church, Inc., allowing the church at 11 State Street to meet off‑street parking requirements using adjacent private lots at 9 State Street and 10 State Street, subject to conditions and the petitioner securing written permissions.

Michael Davis, lead pastor at Genesis, told the council the church has been in Woburn since 2009 and described ongoing community work including partnerships with Woburn Public Schools and local nonprofits. Davis said the church has a signed 10‑year agreement for use of the lot at 10 State Street (165 spaces) and is in discussions with the owner of 9 State Street (45 spaces); the church also retains 101 spaces on its property in the current record. Church services were described as 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; the petitioner said they expect parking usage for the leased lots primarily between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Councilors expressed support for the church’s community activities and discussed practical conditions. The council approved the permit with three conditions recorded on the public record: (1) no on‑street parking associated with the church’s use of the lots, as agreed by the petitioner; (2) permitted parking hours covering 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays (to accommodate services and occasional evening events); and (3) the special permit is conditional on the petitioner securing a license or written permission to use the parking lots at 9 State Street and 10 State Street. Councilors also instructed the petitioner to file fully executed agreements with the clerk’s office for the permanent record once obtained.

Councilors unanimously voiced support during the hearing; the council voted to grant the special permit subject to the stated conditions.