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Plan Commission recommends First Presbyterian Church café expansion to BZA with sewer/FOG condition
Summary
The Plan Commission recommended July 7 that the Board of Zoning Appeals approve First Presbyterian Church’s request to expand a café in its renovated fellowship hall, adding a condition to coordinate with the sewer utility and obtain the required FOG permit.
The Plan Commission voted July 7 to forward a request from First Presbyterian Church (200 E. Beardsley Ave.) to the Board of Zoning Appeals seeking an expansion of its café ministry to the public. The church proposed to operate the café Tuesday–Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. as an expansion of the existing special-exception place-of-worship use; staff concluded the expanded hours and public operation would not harm the neighborhood if the church met health and utility requirements.
Staff and applicant remarks: Eric (planning staff) said the expanded café was an extension of the church’s fellowship-hall renovation and recommended approval contingent on Elkhart County Health Department approval. Rev. Dr. Sally Wicks (pastor) and Marcia Stackhouse (elder and clerk of session) described the fellowship-hall renovation, the church’s partnership with Ruthmere Museum and their outreach intent. Stackhouse said the church had already contacted the water department and the health department and that the water department had agreed to pre-opening coordination on equipment and requirements.
Added sewer/FOG condition: Because food service changes sewer classification and may require grease, oils and fats (FOG) controls, a commissioner requested the church contact the City sewer utility. The commission added an explicit condition to the recommendation: coordinate with City utilities and obtain the required FOG permit prior to operation.
Commission action: Commissioner Mishler moved, Commissioner Beecher seconded to forward a due-pass recommendation to the Board of Zoning Appeals with the staff condition (health-department approval) and the added sewer/FOG coordination requirement. Roll-call votes recorded by Carla (clerk) were in the affirmative; the motion carried.
Next steps: The church will work with the Elkhart County Health Department and City utilities to meet required permits and approvals; the Board of Zoning Appeals will hold the public hearing on the special-exception expansion.
