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City P & Z turns down Catholic church's plan for expansion
On a 3-2 vote, the city's planning and zoning commission recommended disapproving a proposal by the local Catholic community to build a new ministry building next to its existing church downtown.
The proposal included remodeling the existing church at the corner of East Jackson and North 4th East streets and building an adjacent facility to give the church needed space for a fellowship area, administration offices and classrooms, along with more parking.
The goal outlined in the conditional use permit was to replace several existing buildings around town, including Good Counsel Hall, located a mile from the church.
During its December meeting, the planning and zoning board members aired concerns regarding the lack of available parking associated with the project. According to city ordinances, the church needs approximately four times the needed parking spaces than the proposed plan envisions.
Stating its case at last month's meeting, the architect heading the project highlighted the number of vacant parking spaces within a one- and nine-block radius around the church. According to surveys conducted last year, Dave Davies said the church has a "plethora" of on-street parking with 50 percent of these spaces remaining vacant at any given time. Even during its busiest service on Sunday mornings, the church only uses 65 percent of available on-street within a one-block radius around the church, he added.
However, planning and zoning chairman Dennis Belt emphasized his concerns regarding the lack of parking outlined in the plan, saying the additional 31 maximum spaces proposed don't meet what's required by law.
P&Z member Levy Belton made a motion to approve the church's conditional use permit. Using the on-street parking vacancy rates outlined at the December meeting, he said the plan would not cause additional hardships on the downtown area.
"The church can't grow any more land," added P&Z member Clarence Joseph, highlighting the fact the church lacks the money needed to build a new church and fellowship hall elsewhere.
Originally, the Catholic community proposed moving the parish to a section of land on South 18th Street, according to Michael Brown, communications director with the Boise-based diocese, which oversees the Mountain Home church.
"However, the costs to build outside of the local area were too prohibitive," Brown said. "It was higher than the church was able to pay."
A fund drive last winter also fell short, prompting the church's building committee to move forward with the downtown construction plan.
In anticipation of the project, nearly a dozen local businesses next to the church were required to move from their former locations by Dec. 1. The moves were necessary since the construction project included demolishing those buildings to make way for the ministry building. Affected businesses included a salon, hair stylist, boutique, locksmith and the Western Elmore County Recreation District.
Following Monday's recommendation vote, the disapproved conditional use permit goes before the Mountain Home City Council. At the earliest, the council could address the issue at its Jan. 11 meeting.