Friday, August 1, 2003

Board refuses church's request for variance

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
Special to The Citizen

Five years ago Pastor Ronald Foster and his congregation began to make their dream of building a church nestled in the heart of the Hudson Subdivision a reality.

The Old Landmark Church of God in Christ has put over $500,000 into the project so far. Unfortunately, the construction was started without a building permit in hand.

R. T. Strong, then a Fulton Fire Chief who has since passed away, was given the responsibility of attaining the building permit.

A check for $765 was written out and deposited in the City of Fairburn's account. When problems of parking in the Lightening district arose, it was discovered that the permit which had been applied for but never approved did not exist.

"We assumed that he already had the permit." Pastor Foster explained when asked why work began on the church prematurely.

The Pastor and a dozen or so of his flock attended the City Council's Monday night meeting in hopes of appealing their case. They were told by Mayor Betty Hannah that "the Council does not override the Board of Appeals."

The Board turned down the church's request for a varaiance last week. The church's building is more than 23 feet too close to the road.

At this point, the only option The Old Landmark Church has left open is to file a petition known as a "writ of certiorari" according to city attorney Brad Sears.

The church has 30 days to do so before any other action is taken. They are currently seeking the advice of a lawyer in this matter.