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Planning commission approves Soul Haven Baptist Church for 1203 Jackson Lane with conditions
Summary
The Middletown City Planning Commission granted conditional-use approval for Soul Haven Baptist Church to operate at 1203 Jackson Lane, subject to a northern setback reduction, submission of a certificate of zoning compliance, and compliance with fire and building inspection requirements; the vote was unanimous and no opposition spoke.
The Middletown City Planning Commission on March 11 approved a conditional-use permit allowing Soul Haven Baptist Church to use a tenant space at 1203 Jackson Lane as a place of worship, with conditions recommended by city staff.
City planning staff described the property as a multi-tenant commercial building constructed in 1967 on a parcel described in the hearing record as roughly 1.45 acres. Staff said the site is zoned B2 (community business), where religious uses are allowed only with conditional-use review under Table 1204‑3 of the Middletown Development Code. Staff recommended approval with conditions after reviewing the 2011 Middletown Street Master Plan (which lists Jackson Lane as a collector) and the 2022 comprehensive plan’s neighborhood mixed‑use designation.
Staff told the commission that the existing building does not meet one of the code’s use‑specific setback standards: the northern facade sits about 20 feet from the lot line while the standard requires 25 feet. Staff recommended a reduction of that setback to accommodate reuse of the existing tenant space. The report also noted potential fire‑safety and building‑code work: the fire department may require additional egress and fire alarm/suppression systems per the Ohio Fire Code, and the building inspection division requires architectural plans and permits under the Ohio Building Code. Staff explained that, if the commission approves the conditional use, the applicant must submit a certificate of zoning compliance and satisfy building inspection and fire department requirements before occupying the space.
The application was described in the record as filed on behalf of Pastor Brian Elam of Soul Haven Baptist Church. The applicant was represented at the hearing by Matthew Elim, who identified himself as Elam’s son. (The transcript shows variant spellings of both surnames in places; the commission record identifies the church as Soul Haven Baptist.) Elim told the commission the church is a small congregation currently meeting in a private residence and seeking a visible tenant space to hold services and offer community programs — including Bible study, free language classes and nonmedical addiction support — and said those services would be free. He described tentative hours of Wednesday evening services and Sunday small groups and a main service.
No members of the public spoke in opposition. During deliberations commissioners said reoccupying a long‑vacant tenant space could bring activity to the nearby businesses and noted similar religious uses exist in the area. One commissioner moved to grant the conditional use subject to the staff recommendations; Will Parsons seconded. The commission voted unanimously to approve: Will Parsons, AJ Menel, Roger Daniel, Nancy Griffith, David Cash, Tara Ramsey and Gabriel Shane voted yes.
The approval is conditioned on the setback reduction as stated in staff’s recommendation, submittal of a certificate of zoning compliance before operations begin, and full compliance with the Middletown fire department and building inspection division’s requirements (including any required architectural plans, egress modifications and fire‑safety systems). Staff reminded the applicant that those permits and plan approvals are required after the commission’s land‑use action and must be obtained before occupancy.
The commission then moved to routine and training items, including reminders about attendance at the upcoming American Planning Association conference in Cincinnati, and adjourned.
