On a rainy day in April, I took this photo of NW Powers Avenue in front of the 19-acre property, including the barn, owned by Northwest Christian Church.
As expected, Northside Christian Church has not given up on its plan to build a church complex in a rural residential neighborhood outside the city limits in North Albany.
After the Benton County Planning Commission voted on May 5 to deny the church’s request for a conditional use permit, it was expected that the decision would be appealed.
The appeal was reported on social media, but I wanted to confirm it.
On May 26 I heard from James R. Wright, associate planner in the county planning department.
“Yes, Northside Christian Church submitted and paid for an appeal,” he told me in an email.
“The cost of the appeal application is $2,603,” he added, in response to my question about how much the congregation had to pay to keep application alive.
What happens next?
“A notice of appeal will be sent out to all individuals within 1,000 ft of the property lines and any individual who submitted public testimony,” Wright said.
The appeal will be heard by the three-member county board of commissioners. The process calls for another public hearing like the one the planning commission held.
The church scaled back its original proposal before the planning commission denial. It still wants to build a gymnasium and a parking lot and intends to use the gym for its worship services as well as other events. (hh)
There are plenty of vacancies closer to town that would better suit there congregation.
Well lets see there’s a nice gravel parking lot in downtown albany….perfect for a church..it’ll be the Northside Wells fargo talking gardens church..oh my
I understand their wanting a building of their own, but realistically, it would suit the church to be closer to town so that individuals that do not have transportation might be able to walk to the church.
Let’s keep our countryside in North Albany. We already have too much traffic with all the new houses and we need to slow down and not expand this area.
So, people that live in town that don’t have transportation, don’t already have a church they can go to?
You want more bridge traffic so those on the Benton County side of the river can attend this church you propose? How about those people in Benton that don’t have transportation?
Please explain your logic.
A conditional use permit is a special land‑use approval that allows a use—like a church—in a zone where it is not automatically allowed, but may be permitted if the applicant proves it will not harm the surrounding area. This church is a commerical use not a residential use like exists in the surrounding area. This church will certainly harm the surrounding area. There is NO WAY that this church should be allowed to be placed to negatively impact the existing residences that do not need to have special approval. That area is NOT appropriate for a church, mega or otherwise, because churches are commercial enterprises that bring too much traffic and noise that are more appropriate in commercially zoned areas. The church should find another location like a vacant big box store in one of the commercial zoned areas. You church people who want to ruin North Albany go buy one of these existing buildings: Shopko in Lebanon, Albertsons in Corvallis (Kings Blvd) or Kmart in Salem (Lancaster Dr. Stop trying to ruin North Albany!
A bit ironic considering Hasso’s recent comment about the Orleans church & Cemetary…
https://hh-today.com/old-history-its-not-all-that-old/
So then are you saying that the Oak Grove Elementary school needs to be shut down because there are other schools in town and they bring too much traffic every day of the week to North Albany with there 400ish people there everyday?