Friday, July 29, 2005

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Church gets OK for life center

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

One of the Senoia area’s oldest churches will soon have a family life center.

Last Thursday, officials from the Pineview Pure Holiness Church of God appeared before the Coweta County Commission to ask for a variance for a minimum rear setback of 50 feet.

Church leaders told the commissioners that the granting of the variance would allow them to build a 7,800 sq. ft. center that the whole community could use.

The center would feature an outdoor basketball court, a kitchen, restrooms, craft rooms and an eating area.

Officials said the church has been in the community for more than 50 years and would like to give something back to the area.

During a public hearing on the issue, residents Charles Nash and Angela McGuire spoke out against the request. Nash wondered if the church’s expansion would have a detrimental effect on property values in Chestlehurst subdivision, while McGuire wondered what the church was going to do with the property next to her lot.

Bob Long, who represented the church, said if the church purchased the property behind the church, they would either rent the home or sell it. Concerns were also raised about parking, but church officials promised to look into issues that affected the neighbors.

Commissioner Paul Poole made a motion to approve the variance, but also cautioned the church’s leaders.

“I just hope y’all will try and be really good neighbors,” he said.

The motion passed and the church officials thanked the County Commission for working with them.