Church expansion draws crowd at City Hall

Published 9:57 pm Monday, June 22, 2009

Sumner’s City Hall was filled to capacity June 15 as residents against the expansion of Calvary Community Church spoke at a public hearing.

Before the proceeding began, City Attorney Brett Vinson explained to attendees the hearing is quasi-judicial, meaning only people whose appeals were accepted by the city could speak at the hearing. Information presented at the hearing was limited to what was on record with the city as a result of the appeal process and no new documents could be presented at the hearing.

Appellants were given a total of 10 minutes to speak, which included their initial presentation and their rebuttal, following the rebuttal of the attorney representing the church.

The council acts as a judge in a quasi-judicial hearing and council members were given the task of determining whether the decision by the hearing examiner to grant the church a conditional use permit for expansion was erroneous, meaning a mistake was clearly made. If there is not sufficient evidence for this finding, the decision stands.

Five criteria were established for the church expansion to be granted. The appellants gave testimony about the effects of the expansion on traffic, views, safety, property values and the comprehensive plan of Sumner.

Barbara Skinner, a former mayor of Sumner, said when she helped work on the city’s comprehensive plan, and the church expansion is not the type of project meant to be included.

After the appellants spoke, a brief recess was held before attorney Jack McCullough, who represents the church, gave his rebuttal.

In his rebuttal, McCullough told council in spite of the emotional testimony heard from some of the appellants, the case must be viewed in accordance with the law and emotion must be removed.

He challenged the statements of the appellants, saying there needs to be a specific impact stated as a reason against the expansion and the appellants did not mention a specific impact.

For example, McCullough said the size of the expanded church did not constitute a specific impact.

The council decided not to make a decision immediately following the hearing, in order to reach a more informed verdict.

“I just want to be sure we’re making the right decision,” Councilmember Steve Allsop said.

The council will discuss the matter further at its Monday meeting.

To comment on this story view it online at www.blscourierherald. Reach Chaz Holmes at cholmes@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald or 360-802-8208.