Planning commission reviews proposal for 2606 Journey Church addition, waivers and traffic study

Calumet Township planning commissioners reviewed a land‑development application for 2606 Journey Church on a presentation from Brian Mattson of the Shock Group. Mattson described a proposed roughly 10,000‑square‑foot addition to the existing church, a front parking expansion and a new driveway connection to Highland Road while retaining the 212‑seat sanctuary.

Mattson said the existing church footprint is about 3,800 square feet and that the project would move classrooms, a youth auditorium and bathrooms from the basement to the main floor; the basement would be converted to storage. The proposed site plan keeps the rear parking area (about 66 spaces) and adds front parking off Highland Road. "We're proposing the building addition which would allow the classrooms and the youth auditorium to be on the main level," Mattson said.

The applicant also asked for multiple waivers: to submit the plan as a preliminary final plan, to defer sidewalks along Niagara and Island roads, to waive certain Highland Road improvements (parkway widening and curbing), a partial waiver to modify some landscape requirements while using existing woodland as a buffer, permission to use aerial photography for certain mapping, and permission to use storm pipes smaller than the standard 18‑inch size (Mattson said proposed pipes would range from 8 to 15 inches and that the team submitted calculations showing adequate capacity).

Commissioners pressed the applicant on circulation, safety and downstream effects. One commissioner noted the township traffic engineer requested a traffic study and said that study will be the "telling document" to determine whether additional improvements — including turn lanes or other road work — are required. "I think we need to see a traffic study, to make a decision whether to support it or not," the commissioner said.

On pedestrian infrastructure, a commissioner who said they were a retired pastor warned against approving a sidewalk deferral given the possibility of increased attendance and the presence of children: "If you build it, they will come," the commissioner said, urging the applicant to consider weekday programming or other uses that could increase demand for sidewalks. Mattson said the deferral request reflected a lack of nearby connecting sidewalks but said the team would revise plans as needed and work with staff.

Site design questions included internal circulation between the two parking lots and emergency access. A commissioner recommended at least a one‑way connection between lots for special events or emergencies; Mattson and a presenter said parking attendants currently help Sunday traffic flow and that the design team would explore circulation improvements with township staff and consultants.

On stormwater, Mattson said infiltration testing found shallow bedrock, so the design proposes a surface rain garden in the rear corner to manage runoff and an on‑site septic system; he told commissioners the project currently lacks stormwater controls and that the new system would collect roof and parking runoff to keep water away from the building. The history of past basement flooding was raised; Mattson said the proposed controls aim to address that problem.

Mattson showed architectural elevations and said the proposal includes new vestibules, a ramp and improved building access. He also confirmed plans for site lighting, the location of a trash enclosure (set back from residential property lines) and a potential future playground sited to meet setback requirements; he said a revised lighting plan and a clearer turning‑movement diagram will be submitted in the next application package.

The commission noted that religious use in the R1 zoning district requires conditional‑use approval; Mattson said the team intends to hold an initial planning commission discussion and then meet with the board of supervisors before formally filing for conditional use. No final action or vote on the development or the waivers occurred tonight.

The planning commission held brief procedural business earlier in the meeting — including consideration of minutes from May 14, 2026 — and set its next meeting for Aug. 13, 2026 before adjourning.