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Council approves conditional use permit for Grace Community Church to occupy former Lockdown Barbell building
Summary
The Olivia City Council approved Resolution 23 to allow Grace Community Church to relocate into the former Lockdown Barbell building, subject to a planning‑commission condition requiring an occupancy review by a licensed professional; council voiced one concern about downtown economic impacts.
The Olivia City Council voted to approve Resolution 23, allowing Grace Community Church to use the former Lockdown Barbell building as a place of worship and community services.
The move was described by a church representative as a response to space and safety needs at the congregation’s current downtown site. The representative said the building would give the church "more space for kids" and a safer place for elderly attendees, and that the congregation intends to continue community offerings already run from its existing location. "We just serve coffee ... It's free coffee," the Grace Community Church representative said, adding the church hosts AA meetings and hopes to expand counseling and behavioral‑health support at no charge.
Planning staff told council the planning commission previously reviewed the conditional use permit and recommended a single condition: the city’s building official advised engaging a Minnesota‑licensed professional to confirm that the building’s occupancy classification and egress will safely accommodate the planned assembly uses. "There was only one condition ... to engage the services of a Minnesota licensed professional to make sure that the occupancy will facilitate that," planning staff said.
A council member raised a caution about placing a church in a business district, saying it could have an "unanticipated economic impact" on downtown businesses. The council moved to adopt Resolution 23 (motion by Ferguson, second by Howard); the chair called for a voice vote and announced the motion carried. The transcript records affirmative and opposed voices but does not provide a numeric roll‑call tally.
Next steps outlined in the meeting included follow‑up by planning staff and the building official to confirm occupancy requirements and any required upgrades. The council closed the item and moved on to other business.
