Georgia (USA): Will the Jehovah’s Witnesses Be Allowed to Build Church in Dacula?

[1gemstone]

The Gwinnett County Planning Commission has recommended approval for the request, but has done so previously and been overruled at the county commission level.

 

Will the Jehovah’s Witnesses finally be allowed to build a church on their Dacula property? The congregation will find out later this month.

On Sept. 3, the Gwinnett County Planning Commission voted 8-0 to recommend approval for a special use permit which would allow the Jehovah’s Witnesses to build a 5,000-square-foot church on their property located in the 1500 block of Ace McMillian Road. The request will go before the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 24.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have made it this far in the process previously. In 2011, the Gwinnett County Planning Commission also recommended approval for the special use permit request despite the fact the planning department had recommended denial. The planning department analysis, which cited a nearly identical denial for a church in 2007, stated the location could result in an inappropriate amount of traffic in the sparsely developed residential and agricultural area.

The request failed to muster enough support at the county commission level however. On Feb. 22, 2011, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 to deny the request.

Citing the rural nature of the area, then-District 3 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau motioned for denial.

“This community, as depicted in the planning department report, is very rural in nature,” Beaudreau said at the time. “You’re talking about a fairly sizeable congregation with multiple services that will change a rural area forever.”

Nearby residents remain concerned the construction of a church will negatively impact the community.

During the Sept. 3 planning commission meeting, Betsy Stross, whose property is behind and in line of sight of the proposed church, said the Jehovah’s Witnesses have had nothing but a negative impact since 2007 by not properly maintaining the property. Stross maintains residential is the highest and best use of the property.

“There is a scarcity of this type of residential property,” she said. “There is not a scarcity of church sites.”

Stross and other nearby residents in attendance at the planning commission meeting also cited concerns about traffic, aesthetics and light pollution.

Marian Adeimy, the attorney representing the Jehovah’s Witnesses, told planning commission members that nearby homeowners have not responded to offers to meet and discuss concerns about the use of the property.

“While we respect the homeowners’ concerns, we believe they can be addressed through the conditions in this zoning,” she said.

Adeimy explained the only reason the request was necessary is due to Ace McMillian’s classification as a minor collector road — a classification she said was made in error. Churches are allowed on property zoned as RA-200 except when the roads are classified as a minor collector.

District 3 planning commission member Chuck Warbington said discussions with DOT officials have convinced him Ace McMillian is improperly designated as a minor collector road.

“The only reason this is coming in is because of classification of a road — not because it’s agricultural, not because it’s residential — but because of classification of that road,” Warbington said.

Warbington subsequently motioned to recommend approval for the request with conditions including a 30-foot landscape buffer external to all property lines and the requirement the church building be limited to 5,000 square feet.

In her address to planning commission members, Adeimy said a religious institution has federal protections when it comes to the ability to develop and use a piece of land.

“We believe if they are unable to develop this property that it could constitute a taking under the Constitution,” she said.

Adeimy said the congregation would be comprised of local residents who have waited a long time for a church to be built.

“They just seek a place to worship that’s near their homes,” she explained.

Posted by Kristi Reed on Dacula Patch

http://dacula.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/will-the-jehovahs-witnesses-be-allowed-to-build-church-in-dacula

 

[Allabord4Jah]

Vampires? Dracula?  Blood suckers?  If Jehovah wants these friends to get that property, it will be theirs, even if they go to the Supreme Court in this system of things. 

[Allabord4Jah]

Vampires? Dracula?  Blood suckers?  If Jehovah wants these friends to get that property, it will be theirs, even if they go to the Supreme Court in this system of things. 

Sorry, I read the ducula wrong, I actually saw dracula.  It seemed a bit strange to me till I went back and looked it a bit more closely.  I thought the friends were buying property in Transylvania/Europe.  Sorry 

[Musky]

Vampires? Dracula? Blood suckers? If Jehovah wants these friends to get that property, it will be theirs, even if they go to the Supreme Court in this system of things.

That is hilarious!

[Fee-bee]

HAHAHA!

[sunshine]

This quote lept out at me

 

"During the Sept. 3 planning commission meeting, Betsy Stross, whose property is behind and in line of sight of the proposed church, said the Jehovah’s Witnesses have had nothing but a negative impact since 2007 by not properly maintaining the property."

 

Say what?! 

[Qapla]

Yes, this can happen.

 

We recently had a brush with this in a nearby location. Land had been acquired for a new Hall and permits issued, The Brothers started to work on the site to build the Hall. Then, for some reason, there was a problem with the permits. All work had to stop. The Brothers were not allowed to do ANY work on the property.

 

Someone called "codes enforcement" to report that we were not caring for the property since it needed to be mowed, as the grass and the weeds were getting quite tall ... catch is, we were not allowed to mow since NO WORK could be done, yet it was still expected that we keep the property from detracting the the values in the area.

[MizPeg]

psalms 94: 20... we shouldn't be surprised at this. the rumor here around Baldwin County, Al, is that the Witnesses don't believe in Jesus! Golden opportunity to ge out your heaviest artillery.  :-)

[1gemstone]

Sister Lisa..........................you are funnny       

[Allabord4Jah]

I really thought it said Dracula! LOL.   Glad you are getting a laugh out of it, I don't mind at all.  I think we need a laugh in here now and then! 

[trottigy]

I really thought it said Dracula! LOL. Glad you are getting a laugh out of it, I don't mind at all. I think we need a laugh in here now and then!

Your a good sport my friend

[Musky]

I really thought it said Dracula! LOL.   Glad you are getting a laugh out of it, I don't mind at all.  I think we need a laugh in here now and then! 

 

I wasn't laughing at you, I have done the same thing many times, misread a comment and made a irrelevant post, but you couldn't have done that on purpose and made it funnier! Thanks for taking it well!