BZA 01/08/04 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

They would stipulate if a permit were required they would get one. Church use is a special use in agriculture area it requires a special exception, this is agriculture, and it is a permitted use in residential districts and up to the first business district. So here we have the issue that the church has been there for over fifteen years and wants to mix the use. They feel this is a very appropriate use for a variance, they also think it is a benign use and a very appropriate use for the church. They do not think this would be injurious to the public safety and welfare, because they are handling the drainage, the traffic issues, and they can't do anything about the driveway to the west. They also feel, that their traffic would be so light with six units, that they would not have an impact of the safety of the people using State Road 144. Another thing to think about is that they have the best sight distance anywhere along State Road 144 of all those houses from Johnson Road to Pennington Road. He would like to point out there is a passing blister already in existence on the south side of St. Rd. 144, with some tapers and a small turn lane on the north side, it is not like the driveway will come fight out onto St. Rd. 144. They feel this is an appropriate use and will not be detrimental to the adjoining property value, this is a residential use and the adjoining use is residential. They feel this is one of the most benign residential uses you could possibly have. They feel that the association with the church and these individuals the need for senior housing and having someone looking after them there is a peculiarity, not with the land, but with the zoning districts and how do you accommodate churches, their activities and their memberships. Mr. Holloway asked if there were any questions from the board. Mr. Crouch asked what the units would look like and Mr. Holloway said he could not tell him, because they did not have any drawing. He said if that was a major concern he would try and get some drawing for them to see. They could, see the church had some brick and they would be compatible with the existing church structure. Mr. Crouch said then it would be full brick and Mr. Holloway said they would stipulate it would be full brick. That would be compatible with the church structure and the dwellings to the east. However, he would like to remind them that the parsonage is a modular home and there is a modular home immediately to the west. Mr. Crouch asked if these would be two separate unites divided into three each with a walkway down the center and Mr. Holloway said that was correct so these seniors wanting to be near other seniors. It was designed so they could have access from the outside and a common hallway so they could visit without going out side. Mr. Crouch asked if it was all under one roof and Mr. Holloway said that was correct and it will be connected to the church so they will out have to outside to go to church. Mr. Crouch asked if the pitch of the roof would be compatible with the existing church and Mr. Holloway said it would be compatible with the church. He said they would not want it to look like a box on the end of the church. Mr. Crouch asked it there would be rear windows and Mr. Holloway said there would be windows all the way around. Mr. Holloway said they would lose some windows on the church, but the new foyer would have windows in it. He said the windows would probably be taller, narrow windows like the church. Mr. Holloway said this would probably set back from the highway about 120 feet, 38 V2 feet to the west, and to the east next to the condominium units on the other side of the church would be mainly screened by the sanctuary. Mr. Swisher asked if it was important for the board to designate if this was an apartment, wither this was a single family unit and if so are there square footage requirements for either. Mr. Currens said they could have apartment units that were smaller; by definition they have six units 3