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Panora Zoning Board of Adjustment upholds administrator’s ruling that church is not permitted in Light Industrial District
Summary
The Panora Zoning Board of Adjustment unanimously affirmed a zoning administrator’s determination that a church is not a permitted use in the Light Industrial District after public comment and legal argument on an appeal from the Lutheran Church of Hope. The appellant was advised of procedural options following the vote.
The Panora Zoning Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to affirm Zoning and Building Administrator Lisa Grossman’s determination that a church is not a permitted use in the city’s Light Industrial District.
At a duly noticed meeting called to order at 5:15 p.m., Chairperson Mark Humphreys and board members Ellen Campbell, Carla Fitzgerald and Ilene Olson (Carla Wood absent) considered an appeal brought by the Lutheran Church of Hope. Attorney Kelly Orton of Brown Winick Law appeared for the appellant and argued that Administrator Grossman’s interpretation of the zoning ordinance was incorrect. Grossman had submitted a written staff report and summarized its findings for the record.
Building Inspector Jason Van Ausdall of Veenstra & Kimm offered additional comments on the ordinance interpretation and outlined the procedural steps associated with an appeal. Four members of the public—Emily Donovan, Galen Redshaw, Kirk VanKirk and Kelly Hamborg—testified in support of overturning the administrator’s determination and allowing the church use in the district.
After public comment closed, Chairperson Humphreys reviewed the board’s options: affirm the administrator’s determination or overturn it. Member Carla Fitzgerald moved to affirm the zoning administrator’s decision; Ilene Olson seconded. On roll call, the motion carried unanimously, upholding the administrator’s finding that a church is not a permitted use in the Light Industrial District.
Following the vote, Inspector Van Ausdall was granted permission to address the group and provided information about the options available to the appellant for further review or appeal; the meeting record does not specify the procedural details he discussed. The board adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
The ruling leaves the appellant with administrative and legal options to pursue, as outlined by city staff; the record does not specify any immediate change to zoning codes or permit conditions.
