Kingman planning commission recommends rezoning at 1850 Gates Avenue to allow church expansion and on-site daycare

The Kingman Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of rezoning case RZ25-0003, a request to rezone about 3.3 acres at 1850 Gates Avenue (APN 311-14-273-D) from RR and R-1-6 to C-2 (community business) to allow an expansion of the existing church campus and an on-site daycare.

Planning staff presented the case and said the site contains an existing church. According to the staff presentation, mailed notices and on-site signage were sent and posted on Dec. 17; staff reported, “We did not receive any agency comments and public notice was given” and recommended approval to the mayor and city council based on findings of consistency with the city’s general plan.

Applicant Matt Redig told the commission the project involved multiple parcels and zoning designations and thanked city staff for their assistance in navigating the process. Jeffrey Cohen, the project manager for TROOR representing Hope City Church, described the planned work as primarily interior renovations and a modest building addition with life-safety upgrades, improved egress and pedestrian circulation, and parking and drop-off improvements. Cohen said the project includes a roughly 4,000-square-foot building addition and a 4,000-square-foot playground and that the daycare “might be capable of” serving about 100–110 students at full build-out, though he said the facility would not reach that capacity immediately.

Commissioners asked about parcel boundaries, buffering and setbacks, traffic and crosswalk needs, and stormwater/retention measures. Planning staff explained the property had been split so the western residential parcel would remain R-1-6 while the church parcel would be rezoned; staff said C-2 was chosen in this case so the site could maintain existing setbacks and parking without additional impacts to adjacent residential properties. Staff also said a traffic study was not required for this expansion and that site-level drainage and retention issues would be addressed during the site-plan and building-permit review process.

During discussion, a commissioner noted concerns about how conversion of places of worship to school/daycare uses can increase activity near residences; staff responded that existing walls and planned site improvements, including play-area siting and required buffers, mitigate those concerns for this site.

A motion to recommend approval of RZ25-0003 to the mayor and city council was moved and seconded. The commission’s roll-call recorded votes in favor from Vice Chair Swapp, Commissioners McCoy, Sprinkle, Smampi, Sixta and Waters. The commission’s recommendation is advisory; final approval will be decided by the mayor and city council at a subsequent public hearing.

The record indicates the applicant has begun demolition work under a demo permit and that a deed condition was proposed to require a taller wall if the adjacent residential parcel is sold outside church ownership. Staff also noted it can pursue a technical general-plan amendment if necessary to match the requested zoning change.

The commission also briefly received staff reports on upcoming items, including a summary of the American Planning Association conference to be presented next month and staff participation in legislative bill tracking. The meeting was then adjourned.