Commission agrees to rezone former church for use as events center

A proposal that would allow a local church to use its old facility as an events center has won approval from the City Planning Commission.

Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to recommend a request from Spread the Word Ministries to change the zoning on its former worship center at 6206 NW Ferris to C-4 Tourist Commercial. That change from R-3 Multiple-Family Dwelling District will allow Spread the Word to continue using its former church site, designating the new use as an events center that it can use or lease to others.

Kameron Good, a city planner, said the church has moved into new facilities but will continue to use the site as it is, meaning no new structures would be built there. The property is located within a residential neighborhood, with a former school across the street and another church on the site’s east side. The commercial zoning would require the church to install screening around the site to protect residential properties, Good said.

Good said the church’s proposal comes with a binding site plan, meaning if Spread the Word Ministries wants a new use for the site, that new use would have to be approved in advance by the City Planning Commission and City Council. Good said the church already has permission from the nearby church and former school to use their sites for parking, meaning there would be no overflow parking on the street.

The commission’s recommendation goes to the City Council for final action.