Over the objections of neighboring Silveranch residents, Douglas County commissioners voted 3-2 Thursday to approve a special use permit that paves the way for the 30,000-square-foot Valley Christian Fellowship church.
Despite assurances from church officials, opponents of the project said they were convinced if the church were built, a school and other facilities would follow.
More than 100 people packed commission chambers for the three-hour hearing.
"I am going to be a minister in this Valley until I die," said Pastor Leo Kruger. "If I thought for a minute this church would disrupt this community, I would withdraw it, walk out of the building, and wait for God to provide another place."
Kruger said plans did not call for a school, and proposed classrooms would be used for Sunday school and religious instruction. The facility includes a gym that he said would be for the congregation's use.
Kruger said members of the church had spent $1 million in rent over the last 18 years.
"We have moved three times and paid $1 million in rent. What we have to show for it is a great congregation, a lot of office equipment and a good reputation," he said.
He said Valley Christian Fellowship looked for property for 10 years before locating the 5.4-acre lot at 1080 Centerville Lane adjacent to Silveranch.
About a dozen Silveranch residents spoke against the project and presented commissioners with dozens of letters and petitions.
Tom Zogorski, who lives across the street from the proposed church, said the project should be called a high school and community center.
"The story they're talking today has changed as the opposition has grown," Zogorski said. "The design shows insufficient concern for the neighbors."
Greg Cordes said he was concerned about noise.
"I like to sleep at night," he said. "I know this project will have a lot of special events " concerts, basketball games and who knows what else?"
Cindy Reardon said the church would block her view.
"It's huge and it sits in my back yard," Reardon said. "Ninety percent of my windows face it."
She also said she worried about safety.
"We'll have a daily influx of hundreds of strangers. We would have never purchased this house if we'd known about this," she said.
Valley Christian Elder Russ Davidson told commissioners there were misconceptions about the project.
"We never spoke of a daycare center or school. Renting out the facility never came up," Davidson said. "As the leader of a Christian church, it would be pretty hard to say one thing, do the opposite and face our congregation."
He agreed the church had an active membership.
"The women's Bible study might be 10 or 12 ladies showing up. As for strangers and safety, we are not strangers. We are the community " deputies, nurses, teachers, neighbors. We have more than 400 members who live in the Ranchos," Davidson said.
In explaining the size of the church, project spokesman Rob Anderson said Valley Christian Fellowship faced a dilemma.
"Do you file for what you need today or for what you need to grow to? Do we have people condemn us and say, 'No, no, no,' you told us only 15,000 square feet and now you're asking for another 15,000 square feet?'"
He said church officials told him they were not interested in a school or daycare center.
Anderson said the church exceeded county requirements in parking, landscaping and setbacks.
"The applicant has done their best to try to fit into the surrounding residential area," Anderson said.
At the end of public comment, commissioners voted to overturn the planning commission denial because the church met all conditions for a special use permit.
"I've heard the same arguments on all of the other churches talked about today," Kite said.
He cited Carson Valley Christian in the Johnson Lane area.
"There are no traffic problems," Kite said. "What they do is keep a lot of kids busy and off the street."
Commissioners Jim Baushke and Doug Johnson voted against the special use permit.
In a 4-0 vote, planning commissioners denied the special use permit on Nov. 12.
