Council tables decision on Rock Church conditional-use request for downtown property

The Thorp City Council on April 14 voted 4–1 to table a Planning Commission recommendation to allow The Rock Church to occupy 316 N. Washington Street under a conditional use permit, sending the issue back to Planning for possible ordinance language changes.

Building Inspector Bob Christensen told the council the zoning ordinance does not explicitly list churches among conditional uses and said he selected conditional use because a variance would require proving a hardship. Christensen explained that “nothing in the Conditional Use specifically stated church, but felt private clubs were acceptable.” The City Attorney, he said, did not agree with using a conditional permit to authorize a church.

Pastor Smokey Tennison, who said an offer had been placed on the property and a closing was expected in about 10 days, asked the council to approve the Planning Commission recommendation. Tennison told the council, “Thorp was my home and I wished to have the church in the City of Thorp,” and said there were no negative comments at the Planning Commission public hearing.

Council members discussed three options raised at the meeting: seek a variance from the Board of Appeals, amend the conditional-use language to explicitly include churches in Commercial 1 zoning, or alter the zoning classification for the parcel. Alderperson Korn said errors may have been made in interpreting the ordinance but emphasized the council’s duty to stay within zoning guidelines and noted downtown’s limited acreage and the number of vacant buildings.

Motion M/M/S (Lawcewicz/Korn) to table and return the matter to the Planning Commission passed 4–1 (Einhorn opposed). The council did not adopt the conditional use permit at this meeting; Planning is tasked to consider whether to add churches to the conditional-use list for Commercial 1 zones before the council takes up the matter again.