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Religious‑use request on Brick Church Pike ends in tie; board to revisit June 4
Summary
A vote on a request to use a Brick Church Pike property as a religious institution was tied after neighbors pressed concerns about amplified music, occupancy and apparent venue advertising; the board left the record closed and will revisit the case on June 4 when an absent member can vote.
The Board of Zoning Appeals on May 21 split on whether to grant a special exception for use of a Brick Church Pike property as a religious institution, leaving the matter open until the board’s next meeting.
Applicant Georgina Inman said she sought only religious use of the barn and surrounding land for Dominion Ministries and removed language in earlier filings that had suggested venue or wedding‑related commercial activity. "Our application is to use our barn and the surrounding land as a religious institution for Dominion Ministries," she told the board.
Opponents said the property had been advertised online for weddings and events, amplified music had been loud at times, and a mixed pattern of nearby properties raised concerns about the scope of activities. One neighbor said he counted hundreds of vehicles at a recent party and that the travel routes lacked sidewalks and adequate pedestrian access. "This music is very very loud," an opponent said, and others urged strict conditions or denial.
Board members discussed conditions suggested by council staff and neighbors, including occupancy limits and a ban on amplified music after 7:00 p.m.; Inman said she and her husband monitor decibel levels and would accept certain limits but asked for flexibility for summer activities that run later in daylight.
On a motion to approve that included conditions, the vote was tied (three for, one against, with a key member absent). By board rules the record closed and the case will be placed on the agenda for June 4 to allow the absent member to participate; if the board again fails to secure the required affirmative votes within 30 days the application will be deemed denied by operation of law.
The board’s action leaves the property in regulatory limbo for now; staff said the applicant must still pursue required permits and that any violations or new complaints can prompt a show‑cause review before the board.
The tie reflects balancing tests the board must apply — whether the proposed religious use is compatible with the residential zone, whether accessory activities (retreats, gatherings and counseling) remain subordinate to a primary religious use, and whether neighbors’ traffic and noise concerns can be addressed through conditions.
