Planners OK Marshallese church

Project in works for years; dedication ceremony likely in fall

FAYETTEVILLE — Washington County Planning Board members gave the nod for a Marshallese church to finish details of construction and open soon near the intersection of Old Wire and East Gulley roads.

The Jarin Rarik Dron-United Church of Christ is expected to open within a couple of months, said John Duncan Campbell, the general contractor who applied for the permit. The Marshallese church is among the first new churches of its kind in the U.S., Campbell said.

A dedication ceremony is expected to take place this fall, he said.

The 6,000-square-foot church on 2.5 acres includes a fellowship hall, women’s fellowship area with a warming kitchen, office, Sunday school room and choir room, according to documents presented to the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustments. The church can hold 312 people, according to planning records.

The property is in Fayetteville’s planning area.

The project has been in the works for years and is nearly complete, said Senior Planner Nathan Crouch.

The permit for the church was approved in 2011, and the preliminary large-scale permit was approved in 2014, according to previous planning board meeting minutes.

The Planning Board approved the final land development request pending meeting certain conditions recommended by planning staff. That includes protecting the septic system from drivers parking on the system, Crouch said.

The church also must receive fire marshal inspection approval and a planning staff inspection approval, according to planning documents.

No one has objected to the church’s construction, planning staff said Thursday. One neighbor sent a letter supporting the church in 2011, according to board minutes.

Planning board members approved the church with little discussion Thursday.

The permit for the church was approved in 2011, and the preliminary large-scale permit was approved in 2014, according to previous planning board meeting minutes.