Board approves conditional use to formalize church at 45 Mount Carmel Road

The Henry County Zoning Advisory Board on March 12 approved a conditional-use request (CU2509) to formally recognize a religious facility at 45 Mount Carmel Road.

Planning staff presented the case and said the structure has operated as a church since 1970 but had not obtained a conditional-use approval under the current Unified Land Development Code (ULDC). "Chapter 4, section 4.3.14 e of the ULDC permits churches and religious facilities in the RA Zoning district with an improved conditional use," staff stated, recommending approval to bring the existing use into compliance.

Attorney George Bobo, representing the applicant, told the board the congregation is small and the property has simply passed through ownership changes. "This property has been used since 1970," Bobo said, adding that the congregation has about "80 members right now." He said the business license was denied following a recent change in ownership until the conditional-use requirement was satisfied.

Board members asked only brief clarifying questions about whether the ownership change altered operations; staff and the applicant said there were no substantial changes to the property or its use. With no speakers in opposition, a board member moved to approve the conditional-use request and a second was recorded; the chair called the question and the motion passed.

The approval formalizes an existing religious use and clears the way for the applicant to proceed with any additional permits tied to ongoing operations.