Church proposal still has a prayer

Greenfield - In view of the fact that the city recently denied rezoning for a Mormon church, another church that hopes to build in Greenfield will see how it fares.

But The Ridge Community Church doesn't face the same issues that the Mormon church did, said Chuck Erickson, director of economic development and planning.

Comparing both plans

The main problem in the Mormons' request was location - the church was proposed for a 4.2-acre site at the southeast corner of Barnard Avenue and 35th Street, which at that point is only two lanes with no parking lanes, Erickson noted.

The Ridge is proposing its church on the six-lane Layton Avenue, in the 9500 to 9700 blocks, he said.

Like The Ridge, the Mormons' requested that land be rezoned from single-family to institutional. Homes and a school are near the proposed site.

But The Ridge Community Church congregation wants to locate in an area where the city's comprehensive plan envisions a mixture of homes, businesses and community uses, including churches, Erickson said.

As a result of the city's long-term planning document, the issue of spot zoning probably will not come up, he said, adding that the comprehensive plan will probably override zoning.

Not a homey site

Even though two homes currently sit on the 12-acre tract, Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke didn't think single-family homes would ever be built there because of the proximity of wetlands, which would prompt developers to favor multifamily housing or other uses.

A church would have a much lower impact on the neighborhood than a multifamily development, Neitzke said.

"There is a great desire in the city to see it become something," he said.

The site consists of seven lots. All have been owned by a real estate company for up to five years, Erickson said. The vacant land has been for sale for many years. Last year a different church was interested in building there. It proposed not only a church but four 22-unit apartment buildings.

Ongoing approval process

However, the public still hasn't been heard regarding the proposal, which calls for a church that at first would accommodate up to 700 people but which could be expanded to a 1,200-seat facility.

A public hearing will likely be scheduled in late October or early November.

Meanwhile, church officials will come back to the Plan Commission next week with more details on other issues the commission wants to iron out.

One is the kind of materials to be used on the building. The city is most concerned about the south and east sides, including parts of the church that would be visible from Interstate 43, Neitzke said.

Another concern is that a second driveway be constructed onto 94th Street to augment the main driveway onto Layton Avenue.

Finally, looking far into the future, the commission wants church officials to add features to the plan that avoid having a sea of asphalt and rooftops when the church is entirely built out.

The Ridge Community Church started nearly five years ago and had been holding services at the Ridge Cinema and now at Whitnall High School.

THE NEXT STEP

WHAT: the next appearance before the Greenfield Plan Commission of leaders of The Ridge Community Church that wants to build a church in the 9500 to 9700 blocks of Layton Avenue

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11

WHERE: Greenfield City Hall, 7325 W. Forest Home Ave.