This acreage on Powers Avenue in unincorporated North Albany is proposed as the location of a church, gymnasium and parking lot. (Photo taken Feb. 17, 2026)
On March 17, the Benton County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing before deciding whether to allow a church, gymnasium and 269-space parking lot to be built on a 19-acre property in rural North Albany.
Before you read on, I should tell you that I have a personal interest in the outcome. We live about a quarter-mile down the road from 4500 Powers Ave., the address of the proposed development. To take these photos, I didn’t have far to ride.
On social media, residents of the neighborhood have debated the proposal, which is about half a mile outside the city limits in an area Benton County has zoned “rural residential.”
Some say the project would destroy the rural atmosphere that drew them there. Others prefer a church to more housing, and they point out that the whole area was totally rural before the houses were built where the current residents live.
Northside Church bought the property, including a single-family house and a barn, for $1.1 million in May 2023. Last summer church members invited the neighborhood to a barbecue at the house to explain their plans. (My wife and I went. We enjoyed the cordial company and the conversation.)
Churches are allowed in the rural residential zone as “conditional uses.” Northside applied for a conditional-use permit to develop the property in two phases over 10 years.
First, the church would build an 18,902-square-foot gymnasium and a 36-by-60-foot storage building. The gym would serve as a temporary worship space for up to 500 people. The gym would also house weekday youth meetings and a daycare center for up to 58 children.
In the second phase, the church would build a sanctuary building of 54,709 square feet. For comparison, the former West Albany Safeway off Pacific Boulevard has just over 30,000 square feet.
The public hearing before the planning commission will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in Benton County’s Kalapuya Building, 4500 Research Way, Corvallis.
One of the criteria for granting a conditional use permit is that “the proposed use does not seriously interfere with uses on adjacent property, with the character of the area, or with the purpose of the zone.”
Does a supermarket-size parking lot and assembly complex interfere with the “character” of this semi-rural area? “Seriously?” (hh)
This is Northwest Powers Avenue, where the proposed church complex would be constructed.
Well the proposed use is commercial scale size and outside of the UGB. If approved there will be demands on infrastructure and then next, expand the UGB. Then here comes the developers chomping at the bit to build more ‘middle’ housing!
I actually have to agree with the former
Mayor, I would be shocked that the county sanitarian would ever agree to this, and trying to get water from city for a large scale project should by past standards be refused, but church or not it’s about back door money, and think about transportation, north Albany has a problem with that
Most churches sit empty most of the time. A waste of time, space and materiel. Instead of building another church, why don’t the existing churches band together and delegate time for church services using all the days of the week, not just Sunday. A few tweaks up at the altar and one religious ceremony pretty much looks like the rest. Think of the cost savings. Many individuals banding together to cover maintenance and upkeep expenses over a single building. No one Belief System will be over burdened because the cost-shifting has expanded to a wider audience. Once the Central Church site has been agreed upon by the various sects and cults who wish to join in, the now-empty church facilities could be sold off to Home Developers or Fast Food franchises looking to expand. In the end, this plan saves money for everyone, makes far better use of facilities and opens up old properties to new development – development that pay property taxes, unlike the current model where churches get free municipal services. Its a win-win for all.
This is the smartest solution I’ve ever heard here.
Does a supermarket-size parking lot and assembly complex interfere with the “character” of this semi-rural area? “Seriously?” Exactly! Request denied! Bye bye
When I was looking for a place to raise my family, I considered homes in town as well as out here in North Albany. I knew the rules were RR2+ (Rural Residential, 2 acres or more). Given what lifestyle I wanted for myself and my children, I agreed to these terms and moved her. This is true for the THOUSANDS of people that also agreed to these terms and chose to live out here.
To even consider this, is incredulous, and to see that a church is asking for this, absurd
Churches don’t pay taxes even though the rest of us have to. Do we really want such a massive complex in our area? NOPE!!
I find it extreemly ironic that a group of people that see the beauty and wonder in all things created is willing to destroy HIS creation for something so petty, and unnecessary. This piece of land will NEVER be back, but will forever be a concrete pad.. Very sad.
The question should be: Does the new facility change the character of what would be there after the 2 acre build out around it, not does it change the character of what is there now. Plus does the Legislature’s change in law regarding single family homes change any of that.
Obviously it would change the character of the surrounding area, you don’t build it to see if it changes after wards, when you know or should know being a councilor it would not be good judgement to let it be built to figure out if it works,
This has me deeply concerned – more than just because it’s a huge church on acres in our rural North Albany.
I wondered?
When was this church formed? Does the size of the Albany/surrounding area congregation warrant such massive structures?
Where did the money come from to purchase this property?
Who is funding their massive development projects?
What do we know about who is behind this project?
I did a bunch of google searches, going down many rabbit holes and not finding anything that assuage my concerns.
Just drive by Oak Grove next Sunday and check out all the vehicles in the lot. You’ll know where the money came from. It’s a private country club for all the North Albany/ Santiam Christian backscratchers that don’t think the rules apply to them. They can buy any and everything
Long past the time to tax churches. Long past!
Pay for our roads!
The church goers drive on said roads.
I agree. Same situation with the one that purchased the complex that BiMart and the DMV are in. Making too much money and not paying taxes (just like the billionaires)
Are you ready to pay a tax for free assembly, or speech? Ok that will be $12.47 for the right to comment on Hasso’s blog. How about a tax on your hunting rifle? Do you want to have to pay in order to get a fair trial?
Slippery slope.
That’s why your not a councilman any more, Kamala word salad
OK I’ll write sloooooly for you, if you want to tax a church………… rights that are guaranteed by the first amendment, then you should be happy to pay a tax on the use of other parts of the first amendment. Or the second amendment. Or was that too difficult for you to discern?
once again you missed the point, its not on taxing a church, its the land use issue, hopefully that didn’t get to far down your thinking, and slowly is not in your vocab,
yes you missed spelled it, in your word salad, give a better try at understanding land use, then run in november
I misspelled slowly on purpose to point out you didn’t pay attention the fact that I was responding to a person who stated “Long past the time to tax Churches” And noting you do not use all of your name so people won’t know who to hold to account for your attitude.
There is no reason churches should be exempt from property taxes. The constitution provides that the government make to special treatment for or against religion. Giving one kind of joy for profit enterprise different treatment from others is the government taking part in establishment of a religion.
Stands to reason that a property owner creating substantial costs to the public (roads, traffic, sewer systems) should bear the cost.
Furthermore, in order to qualify for tax exempt status, any other not for profit must spend the majority of their income on charity, not buildings or benefits to themselves. Churches should be treated the same.
You might want to consider traffic load. 270 parking spots are going to generate a lot of traffic.
What days & what times? It makes a difference if it’s during rush hour or a quiet Sunday mornings.
They plan on running a day care, sports gym, etc.. so it’s a commercial venue with daily traffic
Interesting nimby responses that act like their homes have been there for eternity. You know, the landscape looked different before all of our homes were here. It used to be pure farmland, then government allowed homes to be built. That is what’s happening now again-government is considering allowing another change. Something is going to be built there and it’s not going to be another single family home. It’s likely a church or 80 townhomes.
If interested/concerned, please submitt email (DUE BY MARCH 9th)– Email: James.wright@bentoncountyor.gov — include your address and reson for, or against this proposal.
Thank you everyone!
This Church size fits into the LARGE category, and approaching the size of
a mega church. Average church size in the US is 17,000 square ft, this proposed
size is three times the size of a typical church. Only 2% of churches are larger
than 50,000 sq ft. What is planned for the inside of this facility besides the
sanctuary? Day care, class room, commercial kitchen with dining area, conference rooms? Along with proposed gym building of 18,902 sq ft., outdoor park, pickleball
soccer ball fields. This is not going to be just used on Sunday only. There will be traffic
and cars travelling to property every day on this small rural road on Powers Ave. which is not built to support this amount of use. This will NOT complement the surrounding area. It will be a MAJOR DETRIMENTAL impact on this rural area.
NO megachurch! This would be a disaster for our beautiful North Albany. Two enormous commercial buildings and a massive parking lot in that beautiful meadow?! It will RUIN the rural character of the area and destroy the value of nearby homes. They might as well propose a Walmart. No! No! No!
I hope the mega church’s leaders hear this loud and clear: North Albany does not want your insane building! Your commercial buildings, your traffic, noise, infrastructure demands, and untaxed business are not welcome here! We already pay out the nose to (barely) maintain the roads, sewer, and water systems, and now this “church” wants us to foot the bill for all the services they will need? NO!
Funny how people are all up in arms about development in North Albany, but those same people have no issue with the explosion of growth in South Albany.
I don’t live in south Albany, and I don’t care what they do with their neighborhood. South Albany is not known for its scenery anyway. I live in North Albany. I do not want the area in which I invested many years and dollars ruined for the sake of cramming in a few more houses, apartments, a megachurch, or a Walmart. The ruining of rural areas and established neighborhoods is NOT inevitable, as developers and politicians try to claim. Sprawl, traffic jams, noise, crime, pollution and higher taxes are NOT inevitable or natural, and not OK. It’s time to push back hard on proposals that will ruin the places we love. Call it NIMBYism if you want, but I’m sure there are many inappropriate things that YOU wouldn’t want in YOUR backyard. Right?
I was looking at a purchase of land just up senic to the south and benton county said therr were no services avalible and none are planned. A building that size will need a sewer system in place before building. Also sounds like it will be a school also or why would you need a gym building? I would love to see some 2 ac. Lots open up in this county. Vote no