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Board approves one‑year extension for Vertical Life Church special use permit at Spence Farm Road
Summary
The Fuquay‑Varina Board of Adjustment voted June 8 to extend Vertical Life Church’s special use permit for a place of worship at 5417 Spence Farm Road through July 9, 2026, after the petitioner said the site plan was submitted and cited rising construction costs and required road improvements.
The Fuquay‑Varina Board of Adjustment on June 8 approved a one‑year extension to a special use permit for Vertical Life Church to develop a place of worship at 5417 Spence Farm Road.
Attorney Nathaniel Parker, representing Vertical Life Church, told the board the congregation has completed necessary site‑plan materials and submitted the site plan on June 5. In a letter read into the record, Parker said, “Vertical Life Church requests a one‑year extension to the special use permit,” and explained the project has seen construction‑cost increases and will require road improvements, including a right‑turn lane on Spence Farm Road.
The request covered BOA SUP 2024‑02, a permit originally approved July 9, 2024, for a roughly 7.08‑acre site in the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. Parker said the church has already invested in land and design work that “exceed $1 million” and that staff requested elements (a tree survey and lighting plan) that the petitioner has since completed.
Board members questioned petitioners about attendance and site design. Petitioners reported average Sunday attendance of about 320 adults and 130 children and said the approved building footprint remained the same, though the design moved from a single building to a multi‑building layout to meet fire code. The petitioner told the board the site plan was submitted on June 5, and the extension was requested retroactively to cover the period through July 9, 2026 so the site‑plan review could proceed.
After asking clarifying questions about traffic control, road improvements and phasing, a board member moved to approve the extension “as presented under the terms and conditions identified in the applicant’s request”; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
The board recorded no named roll‑call tally in the transcript; members indicated approval by voice. The extension allows the applicant to proceed with the town’s site‑plan process without re‑seeking a new special use permit during the 12‑month window.
The petitioner said it anticipates completing required county or utility coordination and proceeding to the next permitting steps. The board moved on to subsequent agenda items after the vote.
