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Elevator project at WBUMC delayed by rezoning vote
by Rick DeClue · News · April 28, 2016
In an effort to get construction started as soon as possible on a new addition, the West Branch United Methodist Church asked the city council last week to approve the required three readings at once on a rezoning request for the $620,000 project.
Though the council vote was a 3-to-2 majority in favor, the motion to “collapse” the three readings into one required a 75 percent vote, according to city attorney Kevin Olson. Council members Colton Milller and Tim Shields cast the dissenting votes; Mary Beth Stevenson, Brian Pierce and Jordan Ellyson voted in favor.
In response to the council’s vote, WBUMC Rev. Alexis Johnson said she respects what the council is trying to do and its policies.
“We will have to be flexible with our schedule and shift the timing for our contractor,” she said. “Obviously, it is not what we wanted, but the city seems to be in the middle of several rezoning requests. They’re trying to be fair and just, and follow their procedures.”
Shields and Miller were concerned about the potential precedent for what Miller said is a process intended to take six weeks for the three readings. Shields noted one reason for the three-reading requirement is to provide citizens with an opportunity to object.
Pierce said Rev. Johnson had been before the council several times on this issue. “We’ve had a few weeks to think about it,” he said.
“As much as they allow us to use their facilities,” council member Jordan Ellyson said she was comfortable with voting for approval of all three readings.
Mayor Roger Laughlin acknowledged that spreading the readings “allowed people to change their minds,” but that he had heard no dissension on this request.
The council then approved the first two readings by unanimous votes, but pushed the third reading of the rezoning request, as well as a vote on the church’s 0.44-acre site plan to the May 2 council meeting. Olson told the council that approval of the site plan would have violated the city’s zoning codes until the rezoning is completed by approval of the third reading.
Rezoning the site from R3 to CB-1 is necessary because of setback requirements from Green Street for the “new” construction under the current zoning.
Johnson told the council the addition will actually not extend beyond the limits of the existing church structure east of the proposed addition.
The church approved the addition last July.
It is primarily designed to address concrete and structural issues with the “bridge” to the entry doors just south of the sanctuary, provide additional handrails and exterior lighting, install an elevator and improve handicapped access to the church.
Construction is expected to take six months.
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