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Planning Commission approves Pleasant Hill Baptist Church site plan, contingent on City Council conditional-use approval
Summary
The Johnstown Planning Commission voted 5–1 on March 3 to approve the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church site plan, contingent on the applicant receiving conditional-use approval from City Council; commissioners raised concerns about parking and asked staff to confirm the correct procedural review path.
The Johnstown Planning Commission voted 5–1 on March 3 to approve the site plan for Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, contingent on the applicant obtaining conditional-use approval from City Council.
The proposal, presented by Joshua James of Young & Associates, describes a roughly 20,000-square-foot parcel with a proposed 5,400-square-foot wood-frame church, including a sanctuary, administrative space and a fellowship area. James said utilities are adjacent and will be extended to serve the site and that the current plan includes nine parking spaces, one of them ADA-accessible, with the potential for additional off-site overflow parking.
Commissioners focused on parking ratios under the zoning ordinance. Commissioner Michael Grandinetti asked staff to review Section 801 and confirm parking and loading requirements for places of worship; commissioners noted the ordinance requires one parking space per four permanent seats and that, based on an estimated 148 seats, the ordinance could require more on-site parking than the plan currently provides. Chairman James Carthew and others asked staff to clarify whether the conditional-use review should be handled by City Council or the Zoning Hearing Board; staff advised the procedural route would be confirmed before the matter moves to Council.
Contractor George Audey described the building as a slab-on-grade wood-frame structure with basic interior finishes and a small serving kitchen. Commissioner Laura Huchel noted sprinklers are not required by code but suggested the applicant consider them given potential insurance implications.
Commissioner James White moved to approve the site plan contingent on Council approval; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Huchel and passed on a roll-call vote: Huchel, Shirt, Buday, White and Carthew voting yes; Grandinetti voting no.
The Commission’s approval is conditioned on the applicant securing the required conditional-use action at the City Council level. The matter will next proceed to Council for that formal zoning determination.
