Fishers BZA approves 3-year extension for Pennington Park Church portable classrooms

The Fishers Board of Zoning Appeals on Aug. 27 approved a request to keep portable classrooms at Pennington Park Church, 13222 East 126th Street, for three more years to support a new counseling ministry.

The request, made by Dave Brown, pastor of ministries at Pennington Park Church, was approved by roll call vote with members Mister Grinsley, Mister Silvey, Mister Lannon and Mister Ferrucci voting in favor. The board’s approval included a condition that the approval letter and related documentation be recorded with the Hamilton County recorder’s office and that prior maintenance commitments continue for the duration of the extension.

The church told the board it has grown rapidly since launching and expanding its building; Brown said the facility’s capacity increased to about 1,500 following a recent expansion and that regular Sunday attendance is about 1,200. The portable classrooms were previously used to address capacity for children’s ministry, and the church said it now wants to use them to host a counseling ministry available to members and the broader community. Brown said the church has advertised a director of counseling position and has interviewed candidates but has not yet filled the role.

City staff presented background from the Unified Development Ordinance, noting portable classrooms are permitted only temporarily and that a prior variance had allowed temporary classrooms on the site. Staff said no public comments were received on the petition and recommended that, if the board approved the extension, the approval be recorded with the Hamilton County recorder’s office and the existing maintenance commitments remain in force.

Board members asked whether the church expected to vacate the portables within three years and whether it would continue the painting and metal-replacement commitments made when the portables were approved previously. Brown replied that the church expects to return to permanent facilities or build new space if needed after the extension and agreed to continue the prior maintenance commitments.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. The board’s vote was taken by roll call; the meeting record shows four affirmative votes and no recorded no/abstain votes. The board chair noted that earlier in the meeting the body confirmed a quorum and that, given one member was intermittently connected by phone, unanimous votes were required for certain actions to avoid automatic continuance to the following month.

The board’s action leaves the portables permitted on site for an additional three years under the recorded condition and existing maintenance commitments. The meeting then moved on to the next agenda item.