|
Greater
Hidden Hills
Overlay
District
neighbors,
Berean
Christian
Church is
planning a
huge
commercial
and
residential
development
on its
property.
The church’s
rezoning
request came
up before
the Board of
Commissioners
(BOC) July
22. Both
Kathy Brice
and I spoke
at the
meeting,
noting that
more
community
involvement
is needed.
The church
agreed with
a request
for a full
cycle
deferral,
which means
the matter
will go back
before the
Community
Council and
Planning
Commission.
We have at
least 60
days before
the next BOC
vote.
READ
MORE.........
On July 19,
2008, Berean
Christian
Church
hosted a
meeting for
the
surrounding
community to
introduce
its plans
for
development.
Kathy Brice
was the only
neighborhood
resident to
attend this
meeting.
Here is her
summary:
Berean is
seeking a
zoning
variance
from
residential
to
commercial
for these
plans.
Community
input is
very
important in
this
regard.
These plans
have not
been
introduced
to the
Overlay
Committee.
In
attendance
were Pastor
Kerwin Lee,
his wife,
the Chief
Financial
Officer, the
architect,
and their
liaison
person
Minister
Andrea
Diallo.
They have 4
phases of
development.
Phase 1:
Improve the
ingress/egress
to the
church.
Currently
there is one
entrance on
Young Road.
They would
like to
expand the
entrances so
there are 2
on Young
Road and 2
on Panola
Road. It is
also my
understanding
that their
plans
include
building a
three level
parking
deck. They
stated that
they are
flexible about
the parking
deck.
Phase 2:
Build a
daycare
center.
This daycare
center would
be located
next to the
church (the
current
church)
Phase 3:
Build a
larger
sanctuary.
They built
their
current
sanctuary in
2004.. They
plan to
purchase
additional
land (either
they
currently
have about
40 acres or
that's what
they want to
end up
with).
After this
land
acquisition,
they will
build a
35,000-50,000
sq ft
sanctuary.
This will be
located on
the
undeveloped
ground
that's
currently
next to
their
parking lot.
Phase 4:
Build an
office and
retail
shopping
commercial
lot that
will contain
about 80,000
sq ft. They
envision
upscale
stores such
as Chucky
Cheese,
Whole Food,
doctor and
dentist
offices as
well as
upscale
apartments.
The
apartments
would be
about 3600
sq ft.
… The
Community
Council
voted to
defer its
vote. There
is some
concern regarding
the
proximity to
existing
neighbors,
cutting down
the
trees, the
height of
the parking
deck, and a
few other
issues. As
we have done
before,
we need to
monitor
these plans
and make
sure they're
in
accordance
with our
vision and
desires.
Berean has
said they
will get
involved in
our overlay
discussions.
We have
asked church
representatives
to attend
the next
overlay
meeting on
August 21, 7
p.m., at the
Berean
Community
Center, 2440
Young Road,
30088. At
this
meeting, we
will hear
the results
of the
community
analysis
residents
provided in
July. I
have
attached a
summary copy
of the
analysis for
your
review.
Also, the
Hidden Hills
Civic
Association
has invited
representatives
from Berean
to speak at
the
Sept. 4
monthly
meeting, 7
p.m., also
at the
community
center.
I hope you
can attend
both of
these
meetings.
Jan Costello |