Plans for a new church in Plum, to be built very close to an existing house of worship, cleared a procedural hurdle with approval from the borough’s zoning hearing board.
Jubilee International Ministry sought a variance to build an estimated 6,100-square-foot, single-story church on its property. It would seat 252 people.
The Rev. Connie Brooks, the church’s founder, executive pastor and CEO, told board members Thursday evening her nonprofit has outgrown its 125-seat, 4,220-square-foot church on Center-New Texas Road, across from O’Block Elementary School.
The area is zoned single-family residential. Churches are permitted in the district.
However, Brooks said a variance was required to have two churches in close proximity. An addition on the existing church would not have required a variance.
The board voted 5-0 to grant the variance provided the church installs some sound buffers to reduce noise concerns. Hearing board member Matt Vasil was absent.
Church officials said it is cost prohibitive to add on to the current church versus new construction.
The proposed development is about $1.2 million.
Letaj Tinker, architect with Tink Design of Pittsburgh, testified Thursday that expanding the existing church would cost an additional $350,000 to $400,000 to meet all regulations, including installing sprinkler systems.
Plans showed 27 parking spaces would be added to the existing 24, with 18 of those new spaces behind the existing church. The existing parking lot would be re-striped.
The plan also showed an area for stormwater management. The two buildings combined would use about 9% of the 2.7-acre parcel.
Tinker said the next step in the process is to craft construction documents and more detailed drawings in January now that the zoning hearing board has granted its approval.
Tinker said the goal is to have those forms ready and seek permits in April, with a groundbreaking to follow in June and “a shell” of a building constructed in time for the church’s 25th anniversary next December.
“I’m very appreciative, very pleased (with the board’s decision),” Tinker said. “I’m also happy for the organization that they will be expanding and continuing their work.”
Brooks testified having an additional church would increase Jubilee’s community programs and help more people.
Jubilee has a Sunday service and helps children from multiple municipalities through an academy program the second Saturday of the month. They also have three nurses on staff and host flu and covid clinics and provide vaccines when available.
“We’re constantly in the community making sure our seniors are being taken care of, making sure the children and single mothers are being taken care of,” Brooks said.
Board members declined to comment about the church project after the meeting.