HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Valley Shepherd
-.""',:,'
:1;;.., ,...., ,"
. i+'I,"-;;;'>;'
..'
1IJJe;. ~&uf, ~~
r )" I .'~ ,'I . " ~ ~I 'T 1 j'\( j'i,~,'ll"\ ~ 1:":,. l.~' I "
\, Passion for God a,11d Compassion fOI'" Peap 'e' ,", ""'.
,:,'.^ '."
, . , .
.. "."..;',:::;',C.'.,:,'.:: ".,", " . .: \ .' 'c- , r " .
-. ",,",."
,',. ,',.
~~. ,;.. :
CITY OF MERIDIAN
MAYOR'S OFFICE
RECEIVED
JUL J H 2007
City of Meridian
City Clerk Office
',',' :
~/;;'(application for a zoning change will come before your city council meeting. We had requested a
P and Z Commission has recommended an LO zoning for our church, although the staff had
G. You will note the recommendation from P and Z was not unanimous. The chairman had made
'ur behalf which did resu~ in the offering of the LO rating as a compromise, rather than a denial.
e neighborhood was that the door would be open to place a large unattractive building on the
'. reduce the value of properties. This, of course, was not our motive. To the contrary, we have
,lie in expense and planning to have a beautiful church building constructed and reason would not
\ii'this vision. We simply would like to have an electronic reader board on Meridian Road and we
~CG zoning would be the only condition which would allow us to have such.
\'
-'i"mpromise was a sincere endeavor to respond to the neighborhood as well as to us. Since the
, ing Commission, we have studied the conditions of the various zoning possibilities and feel La
hurch in the ways we need. If we cannot have CG, we are inclined to believe that CN would be
" . In fact, the testimonies of the neighborhood would indicate this use would be what they would
.;':vwhich they would be comfortable. The only problem is that CN does not allow us to have an elec-
\;, '" but it certainly allows for more adequate signage than does La. Furthermore, CN would permit
, of activities we feel will enhance the ministries and services of our church in our new location.
, prefer CG. We would want to assure the neighborhood we will not abuse this opportunity with
,',' not in keeping with church programming. Our motives are to serve the neighborhood as well as
j)unding communities, in general.
"fl."
'ID'ihas endeavored to be a pOSitive part of the greater Meridian Community in its present location and
ht of changing that image. For a number of years, the Chamber of Commerce met in our Fellow-
,a.ve always made our church available to the community to meet needs such as blood drives, a
preci ,Meridian Philharmonic practices, sponsored the annual Easter Egg Hunt in Storey and Bear Creek
,and provide rent-free room for the Meridian Food Bank, just to name a few.
We, therefore, would like to feel a mutual trust between the city and our church could result in granting us a CG
zoning. In today's world, communication is important and the electronic media will enhance this effectiveness. Our
plans do not allow for a flashy, gaudy, offensive type of sign. We have requested design that is of high quality, digni-
fied, and one that harmonizes with the gothic architecture of the new church building.
On a side note, references were made by neighbors of a potential traffic problem connected with our church.
Interviewing this, we recall that we chose to side with our neighbors in opposing a connector road that would have
gone through our property and provided a different access to it. We supported the ACHD, which designed and devel-
oped the exit from Meridian Road and the entrance to our property as it is now being developed. We have been
reminded that the developer of the Strada Bellissima subdivision was in full agreement with the present plan from the
beginning. We certainly don't want our neighbors to be uncomfortable with us and we will do what we can to
encourage parishioners to avoid traveling through the neighborhood and, especially, we will encourage our people to
drive with extreme caution in the area.
We feel the street and entrance situation is already a settled issue but refer to it to assure the City Council and the
neighborhood of our desire to simply be good and sensitive neighbors.
We will be represented at the Council meeting on August 21, but felt this prior response from us might be appreciated
as you consider our request from CG.
Sincerely,
1t. Joo n
Senior Pastor of Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene
Meridian, Idaho
www.va lleyohepherd.org
831 North Main 5treet
Meridian, 0 83642
208/888-2141
)le Mayor Tammy de Weerd
President Joe Borton
nan Keith Bird
nan Charlie Roundtree
nan David Zaremba
ivic Leaders,
IVED
JUL 3 G 2007
CITY OF MERIDIAN
MAYOR'S OFFICE
RECEIVED
JUL 3 C 2007
City of Meridian
City Clerk Offiee
ist 21, our application for a zoning change will come before your city council meeting. We had requested a
ning. The P and Z Commission has recommended an LO zoning for our church, although the staff had
3nded a CG. You will note the recommendation from P and Z was not unanimous. The chairman had made
case on our behalf which did result in the offering of the LO rating as a compromise, rather than a denial.
cem of the neighborhood was that the door would be open to place a large unattractive building on the
and thus reduce the value of properties. This, of course, was not our motive. To the contrary, we have
extra mile in expense and planning to have a beautiful church building constructed and reason would not
to tarnish this vision. We simply would like to have an electronic reader board on Meridian Road and we
firmed the CG zoning would be the only condition which would allow us to have such.
We the LO compromise was a sincere endeavor to respond to the neighborhood as well as to us. Since the
me of the Zoning Commission, we have studied the conditions of the various zoning possibilities and feel LO
doel,,ave
serve our church in the ways we need. If we cannot have CG, we are inclined to believe that CN would be
beltan the LO. In fact, the testimonies of the neighborhood would indicate this use would be what they would
envand with which they would be comfortable. The only problem is that CN does not allow us to have an elec-
tronader board, but it certainly allows for more adequate signage than does LO. Furthermore, CN would permit
us t the kind of activities we feel will enhance the ministries and services of our church in our new location.
We : uld, of course, prefer CG. We would want to assure the neighborhood we will not abuse this opportunity with
addi nal facilities not in keeping with church programming. Our motives are to serve the neighborhood as well as
Med an and surrounding communities, in general.
Valley Shepherd has endeavored to be a positive part of the greater Meridian Community in its present location and
we have no thought of changing that image. For a number of years, the Chamber of Commerce met in our Fellow-
ship Hall. We have always made our church available to the community to meet needs such as blood drives, a
voting precinct, Meridian Philharmonic practices, sponsored the annual Easter Egg Hunt in Storey and Bear Creek
Parks, and provide rent-free room for the Meridian Food Bank, just to name a few.
We, therefore, would like to feel a mutual trust between the city and our church could result in granting us a CG
zoning. In today's world, communication is important and the electronic media will enhance this effectiveness. Our
plans do not allow for a flashy, gaudy, offensive type of sign. We have requested design that is of high quality, digni-
fied, and one that harmonizes with the gothic architecture of the new church building.
On a side note, references were made by neighbors of a potential traffic problem connected with our church.
Interviewing this, we recall that we chose to side with our neighbors in opposing a connector road that would have
gone through our property and provided a different access to it. We supported the ACHD, which designed and devel-
oped the exit from Meridian Road and the entrance to our property as it is now being developed. We have been
reminded that the developer of the Strada Bellissima subdivision was in full agreement with the present plan from the
beginning. We certainly don't want our neighbors to be uncomfortable with us and we will do what we can to
encourage parishioners to avoid traveling through the neighborhood and, especially, we will encourage our people to
drive with extreme caution in the area.
We feel the street and entrance situation is already a settled issue but refer to it to assure the City Council and the
neighborhood of our desire to simply be good and sensitive neighbors.
We will be represented at the Council meeting on August 21, but felt this prior response from us might be appreciated
as you consider our request from CG.
Sincerely,
raid D. Joh n
Senior Pastor of Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene
Meridian, Idaho