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Small congregations urge zoning change so they can buy and expand without special‑use hurdles
Summary
Pastors and members from several Lafayette churches asked council to rezone a stretch along Highway 287 away from AMX‑2 and make religious/secular assembly a permitted use to avoid costly special‑use review that can bar small, community‑serving congregations from expanding.
Several speakers representing local faith communities asked council to change draft land‑use code provisions that would rezone two lots near Highway 287 as AMX‑2 and make religious and secular assembly subject to special‑use review. Brad Edwards, lead pastor of The Table Presbyterian Church, said the change would force small congregations into discretionary hearings, higher fees and consultant costs that many congregations cannot bear.
Edwards recommended rezoning the parcels as neighborhood mixed‑use center and making assembly permitted by right; he noted the stretch includes several churches that serve roughly 400 weekly worshippers and that other Lafayette houses of worship are not being rezoned to AMX‑2. Other speakers (Tim Twynam, Bailey Demea and Elizabeth Gillespie) described the social services and community support churches provide and urged the council to preserve those uses and support small‑budget congregations in the land‑use process.
