Sumner Council to hear appeal of church expansion

Sumner City Council members will host a public hearing Monday regarding an appeal to the Calvary Community Church expansion project. The hearing is a closed-record appeal hearing, meaning the council is only allowed to consider facts and testimony presented to the hearing examiner, with no new comments being accepted.

Sumner City Council members will host a public hearing Monday regarding an appeal to the Calvary Community Church expansion project.

The hearing is a closed-record appeal hearing, meaning the council is only allowed to consider facts and testimony presented to the hearing examiner, with no new comments being accepted.

Calvary Community Church, on Gary Street in Sumner, was granted a conditional use permit and height exemption by hearing examiner Stephen Causseaux, who presided over a public hearing in February about the proposed expansion.

Expansion plans include a two-story sanctuary covering approximately 37,000 square feet of land, an increase in the number of parking spaces and utility improvements. Later phases of the project may involve adding an education center, member services center and chapel; expanding the school building and administrative office; and a kitchen renovation.

The conditional use permit was granted with conditions, including that the church to record the volcanic hazard area notice against the title of the property, keep the occupancy at or below 5,000, ensure landscaping is in accordance with Sumner guidelines and agreement on the design of an incoming traffic signal shall be reached between the city, nearby residents across Valley Avenue, and the church.

Church additions would total approximately 244,230 square feet over an estimated 97,880 square feet of land.

The public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 1104 Maple St. in Sumner.