Austin Church Seeks Rezoning for Expansion Amid Community Concerns

Austin Church Seeks Rezoning for Expansion Amid Community Concerns

Austin’s Planning Commission recently voted to recommend the rezoning of the Alpha Seventh Day Adventist Church property located at 3016 E. 51st St. However, due to a posting error regarding the address, this vote must be taken again at the next meeting. The church, which has been a vital part of the community since 1983, has been pushing for changes that would allow for a larger parking lot and accommodate future growth.

Strong Vote for Change

During the most recent meeting, commissioners voted 11-2 in favor of the church’s request to change from family residence zoning to community commercial zoning. Commissioners Danielle Skidmore and Grayson Cox were the only ones to vote against the proposal. The support follows a long-standing desire from the church community to expand its facilities to better serve parishioners and local residents.

Church’s Community Impact

Pastor Laurant Grosvenor highlighted the church’s involvement in the community, noting that the food pantry serves up to 2,000 families a month. “We care deeply about this community and have invested decades in building our presence here,” Grosvenor stated. He stressed that the rezoning would help the church continue to grow and serve its mission effectively in the years to come, emphasizing that “this is more than a church, it’s our community.”

The church does not aim to sell its property; rather, they hope to enhance their offerings. Michael Whellan, the church’s lawyer, added that expanding facilities would also provide a gym, classrooms, and offices for both the church community and the surrounding neighborhood.

Parking Challenges

Currently, the church has only 42 paved parking spaces, which leads to a significant number of visitors using an unpaved lot that lacks accessibility for individuals with disabilities. There are safety concerns surrounding the conditions in the dirt lot, especially after rain. Member of the congregation, Eric Shepperd, expressed the need for improvements, stating, “Right now more than 50 percent of our parking capacity is out back in the dirt, and the raw conditions pose a safety hazard for our congregation and visitors.”

Neighborhood Concerns

Despite the church’s intentions, some residents nearby have voiced their concerns about the potential consequences of increasing the property’s impervious cover to as high as 90 percent. Emily Nobel, who lives adjacent to the church, expressed fears that this expansion could worsen localized flooding in the area, citing past drainage issues related to runoff. “Allowing the church to essentially double the impervious cover puts my property and the surrounding homes at risk of additional localized flooding,” she warned.

Another resident, Robert Mendez, echoed these concerns and suggested alternative solutions for expanding parking without increasing the impervious area. The city staff had proposed a more restricted commercial zoning that would limit impervious cover to 80 percent, but the commission favored the church’s request.

Future Steps

At the meeting, Commissioner Grayson Cox voiced his disagreement with the broader zoning request, stating, “We should be zoning our city based on what category makes the most sense in that particular location.” On the other hand, Commissioner Greg Anderson supported the church’s proposal, acknowledging the challenges of cultural displacement and the importance of the church in the community.

The Planning Commission will rehear the case at its next meeting on November 12. Since there is a valid petition against the rezoning, approval will require a supermajority of nine votes from the City Council. The future of the church property remains uncertain as community members and church leaders continue to discuss the best path forward to balance growth and environmental concerns.