Neighbors continue church fight

Residents haven't given up their fight to stop the construction of a new church adjacent to their Gardnerville Ranchos neighborhood.

They're hoping the county will grant a rehearing of the proposal by Valley Christian Fellowship to build a 30,000-square-foot church on 5.4 acres along Centerville Lane.

In a Dec. 9 letter, Silveranch resident Thomas Zogorski Jr. asked county commissioners to reconsider their decision to approve the church.

Commissioners voted 3-2 on Dec. 4 to approve a special use permit for the location, with Pleasantview resident Jim Baushke and Ruhenstroth resident Doug Johnson opposed. They overturned an earlier planning commission ruling against the permit.

Zogorski wrote that he's appealing commissioners' approval on behalf of the neighbors, who oppose the church because they fear it will affect their property values.

In his letter, he pointed out that the church had not received approval from the Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District for water service, and that proponents would have to obtain water rights.

He said commissioners denied a neighboring project based on traffic counts on Drayton Boulevard.

In her report to commissioners, Deputy District Attorney Cynthea Gregory questioned whether Zogorski had standing to ask for a rehearing based on county code.

Douglas County code allows an applicant to request a rehearing based on additional information, but Gregory said the definition of applicant was changed in 1996 to exclude neighboring property owners.

Once commissioners decide whether the neighbors have status to challenge the project, they'll have to determine whether there is new information and whether that information would change the outcome of the hearing.

Four county commissioners have to vote in favor of a rehearing before it could be put on an agenda for next month.

Two new commissioners, Greg Lynn and Mike Olson are replacing Kelly Kite and Baushke on the board.

If commissioners deny the rehearing, residents' only recourse would be to challenge their decision in court.

Parishioners plan to build their new church in two phases. They said they will preserve the old barn on the property.