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Rankin County planning commission to rehear conditional-use request for behavioral health program at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Summary
The planning commission agreed to restart consideration of Emma Boone’s conditional-use application for New Life Counseling (doing business as Boom Behavioral Health Services) at 935 Highway 469 North after a prior denial triggered a lawsuit and questions about church authorization; a formal hearing will be scheduled in July.
The Rankin County Planning Commission agreed on July 3 to restart its review of a conditional-use application from Emma Boone to operate a behavioral health and community education program at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 935 Highway 469 North.
The matter was placed back on the commission’s calendar after the commission rescinded a prior denial and to give the applicant an opportunity to speak and present evidence about whether she has the church’s authorization to use church property for the proposed services. "We're gonna give the applicant an opportunity to actually address the board and to establish that she and her entity have authority on behalf of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church to actually utilize the property that belongs to the church," the board attorney said during the meeting.
The application describes New Life Counseling DBA Boom Behavioral Health Services as offering education, therapy and consultation focused on psychosocial rehabilitation and day treatment for all ages. The parcel listed in the meeting materials is about 16.69 acres and shown as zoned A-1. Meeting materials included photographs of the property and a description of services the applicant proposes to provide.
Commissioners said the restart was prompted by conflicting statements at the prior hearing about whether church trustees or other church authorities had authorized the application. The board attorney told commissioners that, at the prior hearing, some individuals representing the church told the commission the church had not authorized the proposed use; the attorney recommended pausing the process so parties could produce documentation of authorization. The commission later rescinded its previous denial, prompting the restart and, the attorney said, a lawsuit alleging the applicant was not permitted to address the board previously.
Commissioners did not take a final vote on the application July 3. Instead, the commission said it would schedule a new hearing in July to allow the applicant and church representatives to present evidence and testimony. No specific July hearing date was recorded in the meeting minutes; commissioners said the hearing would be set on Monday and discussed again during the July processing.
The commission said that, if it grants a conditional use, it will set specific conditions such as hours of operation and whether overnight stays would be permitted; those operational conditions will be determined only if the conditional use is approved.
Emma Boone, the named applicant, and representatives of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church are expected to appear at the rescheduled public hearing. The commission also noted members of the public may speak at that hearing.
