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Newcastle planning commission recommends façade-material exception for Victory Family Church
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Summary
On April 27, 2026 the Newcastle Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a façade-material deviation that would allow Victory Family Church to keep existing metal siding on the side and rear elevations of a classroom building, with conditions on paint and landscaping and a restriction that the exception apply only to this case.
On April 27, 2026, the Newcastle Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a façade-material deviation for Victory Family Church’s renovation at 113 Northeast 2nd Street, allowing existing metal siding on the building’s side and rear elevations to remain while requiring the front elevation be finished to match the campus.
Planner Julie Yuan told commissioners the church recently purchased the former Old Mill House Mid Market building and is converting it into classroom space. She said the city’s façade standards require at least 80% masonry on each building elevation, but that the applicant proposes to retain existing metal siding on the side and rear elevations because the structure (built in 1980) was not designed with brick ledges and retrofitting masonry would be impractical. “Staff finds that requiring additional masonry on the side and the rear elevations would provide minimal public benefits,” Yuan said, and recommended approval of the requested deviation consistent with similar exceptions previously granted in the community commercial zoning district.
Commissioners asked about the visual treatment and site work. Staff and the applicant showed site plans and a campus master plan and explained the front elevation will be given a masonry-like treatment and painted white, while the side and rear elevations would be painted black to match an existing adjacent garage. Staff said the parking area will remain and be restriped for the proposed use until later phases, and that landscaping will be added to soften the building’s appearance.
Chair moved “to fully recommend approval,” and specified the recommendation should note the exception is restricted to this circumstance, require the white front façade and the black-painted side and rear elevations to be consistent with the campus color scheme, and require landscaping submitted through the planning department for approval. The motion received a second and passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The commission’s recommendation alters how design standards are applied in an existing commercial district and sets a narrow precedent for exceptions where retrofit is impractical and public benefit from masonry is minimal. The item will go to the city council for final action; staff reminded the commission that building permits and any future sanctuary expansion remain subject to separate reviews and approvals.
Details and conditions: Staff cited code provisions regarding exterior materials and façade requirements and noted the proposed classroom building is already permitted for interior renovation. The commission’s approval was explicitly limited to the current renovation and included the paint and landscaping conditions discussed on the record.
Next steps: The Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Newcastle City Council for final consideration; the applicant will pursue building permits and any additional approvals required for future construction phases.
