Sherman church zoning issue moving to Sangamon Co. Board

SHERMAN -- A controversial request to change the zoning of a church property near Sherman will move on to the Sangamon County Board this month following a tie vote from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The owner of Heartland Worship Center, 6800 Bahr Road, has asked to change the property?s designation from agricultural to commercial, but neighbors and village officials in Sherman are concerned that the change could generate additional traffic and cause other problems.

The county board will consider the case at its June 12 meeting, zoning administrator Cyndi Knowles said.

The history

The request first came before the zoning board in April, and the board split 2-2 last month on whether to recommend approval. One member was absent.

Because indecisive votes are rare, the county zoning department asked the state?s attorney?s office for a recommendation on how to proceed. The attorney handling the case was not available Friday for comment.

The 7-year-old church building, sitting on a 6-acre property, is listed for sale on the website of Garrison Group Inc., a commercial real estate firm. County board member Todd Smith, whose district includes the Sherman area, is the agent for the property.

Sherman officials and nearby residents had hoped to persuade the church?s pastor, Jim Austin, to drop the request and let the next owners apply for a conditional-use permit for whatever type of business they want to run.

But Austin, who has declined to comment on the issue, has proceeded with his effort.

What?s next?

The Sherman Village Board unanimously passed a resolution last month that requires a three-fourths majority of the county board to approve the change. The village has the authority because the property is within 1.5 miles of its boundaries.

Village President Trevor Clatfelter said the town and the church?s neighbors will continue to fight the change.

?The county board will see that virtually 100 percent of the residents who live along Bahr Road are opposed to any type of business zoning that?s open-ended,? he said.

Residents plan to voice their concerns at the June 12 county board meeting, and many have already signed petitions expressing their opposition, Clatfelter said.

Dan Petrella can be reached at 788-1532. Follow him at twitter.com/PetrellaReports.

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