Burlington’s planning and zoning commission has given its unanimous nod to a rezoning request that would allow the World of Pentecost church to add five lots to its existing grounds along Hanford Road.
The 42-year-old congregation, which has been at its current location for over two decades, has sought the city’s permission to add these five, residentially-zoned parcels to the conditional zoning district that encompasses the church’s current, 12-acre abode.
Jamie Lawson, the city’s planning director, told the commission’s members that the church’s request will facilitate its expansion onto the 17.57 adjacent acres that the church has acquired on either side of its home.
“They have some plans for future alterations,” she said, “and this allows them to do that within one consolidated zoning district.”
Lawson added that, under the church’s request, the terms of the existing conditional district would be revised to allow the construction of new buildings along with auxiliary features such as playgrounds.
Chad Huffine, a civil engineer in the church’s employ, said that this rezoning request is just the first step in an expansion plan that the World of Pentecost has in the offing.
“The church decided to grow a couple of years ago,” Huffine explained during the planning board’s meeting. “The additional properties accommodate extra parking, as well as a proposed sanctuary and a proposed gymnasium.”
The church’s request also drew a few questions from neighboring resident Eddie McKinnon, who said he mainly wanted to make sure that this religious institution will be held to the same curb and gutter requirements as other nearby property owners.
He gave the church’s proposal his blessing once Lawson assured him that the church isn’t exempt from these rules.
“I have no problems with the church,” McKinnon went on to note, “and I’ve found them to be good neighbors.”
The planning commission’s members voted 6-to-0 to recommend the church’s request to Burlington’s city council.
