Residents voice concerns over church expansion plans

by Dan Holland

Nov. 18 city council meeting

Following an executive session held after a Nov. 18 city council meeting, members of Broadview Heights City Council reconvened to vote 6-1 in favor of an ordinance that will allow expansion plans to move forward at Slavic Full Gospel Church, located at 5851 E. Wallings Rd. Ward 2 Councilperson Brian Wolf cast the lone dissenting vote.

Passage of the ordinance authorizes the city to enter into a final settlement agreement and release of full settlement on a case known as Slavic Full Gospel Church, Inc. vs. the city of Broadview Heights filed with the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. The appeal/lawsuit against the city was filed following a 5-0 vote on March 13 by the city’s planning commission to deny the expansion project.

During the Nov. 18 city council meeting, a number of residents living in close proximity to the church voiced concerns over potential traffic congestion, noise and stormwater runoff associated with the expansion, which will increase the current 11,000 square-foot facility to 49,700 square feet. The two-level facility will include a new 650-seat sanctuary, children’s wing, café, fellowship hall, Sunday School classrooms, offices and an outdoor patio.

“I would hope most of you up here, at this point, kind of know the nature of this project and how the residents feel,” resident Andrew Edmunds told councilmembers. “We just thought it was a little bit egregious what they are proposing to do, which was an absurdly large project for what we consider to be a small area of land sandwiched right between our residential community.”

Edmunds asked if a decision on the ordinance had already been made by councilmembers prior to residents expressing their views. Law Director Vince Ruffa explained that he had only advised councilmembers on the legalities and issues concerning the project during the executive session, but that no one had shared how he or she would vote on the matter.

Edmunds specifically cited concerns over noise, stormwater runoff, parking issues and outdoor lighting.

Resident Kathy Hunsicker expressed concerns over possible encroachments on adjacent residential properties. “When they went beyond their permit in the last project that they had, they went 40 feet beyond their project in the parking lot by our property line with the parking lot,” she said. “I don’t know where their snow is going to go; it’s going to go on our path in the woods – onto our property.”

Ruffa explained that the encroachment she was referring to would be removed as part of an agreement.

“We’ve heard all this stuff before – the size of this project – they go by legalese and all that,” said resident Doug Hirzel. “[They have] so many acres, but most of the acres go back into the wooded area, because they bought two properties there, and half of it is swamp land back there. And they try to use that acreage to justify the fact that they can build this huge building right out next to the road as big as four houses.”

Ruffa explained that the current expansion plans fall within city code, with no variances required. He also referred to a federal law that relates to the case – the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA).

“It basically, also somewhat makes it very difficult for us not to approve something like this,” said Ruffa. “So that’s a factor that has to be considered by the city as a whole, because if there is litigation under the RLUIPA Law … those are factors that this council has to consider in making a decision.”

Mayor Sam Alai addressed a concern over increased traffic along East Wallings Road brought up by resident Colton Jernigan. “We are widening the road and the bridge over the highway that will relieve a lot of traffic regardless of whether it’s the church on the corner, the church that’s being proposed, or traffic going to school and work in the mornings,” said Alai. “So, the widening of Wallings will take care of a lot of traffic issues.”

A traffic study conducted by GDP Group, an Akron-based engineering firm, concluded that the expansion plans would not cause traffic delays, and that road improvements would not be necessary. The study noted that the city, it if so decides, could choose to add a 300-foot-long left-turn lane from eastbound Wallings Road to the church parking lot entrance.

Cuyahoga Valley Church, at 5055 E. Wallings Rd., which holds three Sunday morning services, is located less than 400 feet west of Slavic Full Gospel Church at the I-77/Wallings Road interchange.

In other business, council approved:

• An agreement with G & G Fitness Equipment for the purchase of a dumbbell set and rack for the city recreation center at a cost of $20,084.
• An agreement with Dell Technologies for the purchase of 15 computers at a cost of $15,447.
• An agreement with Graybar for the purchase of electrical components for a new pavilion built on city campus at a cost of $14,783.
• An agreement with DWA Recreation for wood staining on a new pavilion built on the city campus at a cost of $1,300.
• An agreement with World Fuel Services for 2025 fuel purchases in the city.
• An agreement with the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas for a juvenile diversion program in the city.
• An agreement with Ganley Ford for the purchase of a new police cruiser at a cost of $44,239.
• A resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county fiscal officer.
• An ordinance advancing $100,000 to the Treeworth Boulevard TIF Fund.
• An ordinance transferring funds to the street, recreation and city capital funds.