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Planning commission backs Highway 79 land-use change to allow future church
Summary
Commissioners recommended changing a 6-acre parcel from agriculture/silviculture to general commercial to permit future church construction; neighbors raised concerns about access and topography but staff noted the change is only land-use and a development order would come later.
The Washington County Planning Commission recommended approval of a small-scale future land-use map amendment to change roughly 6 acres along Highway 79 in the northern-central part of the county from agriculture/silviculture to general commercial. The applicant said the change would allow construction of a future church.
County planning staff presented the future land-use map and said the Highway 79 corridor is a focus for commercial development; staff said public notice requirements were met and that no neighbors attended the neighborhood information meeting. At the public hearing, neighbors Ken and Eileen Pike raised concerns about site access from Highway 79, steep slopes toward a nearby swamp, parking, and potential on-site housing or a parsonage.
Pastor Dane Caldwell of Grace Church told commissioners the group sought the land-use change to permit a church, and said the church does not currently plan to build a parsonage. Staff reminded the public and commissioners that the meeting addressed a land-use change only; any actual building plans, parking layouts, septic or access designs would come later in a development-order review and require further notice to neighbors.
A motion to approve staff recommendation passed on roll call. Commissioners recorded affirmative votes from District 1 Roger Hagen, District 2 Richard Cooney, District 3 Michelle Cook, District 4 Carl Owens, District 5 Jared Highet, and Member at Large Chairman John Gay. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners, which is scheduled to make the final decision on March 13.
