Church rejected in Edmond neighborhood

For The Oklahoman

EDMOND — After weeks of back-and-forth discussion and demands, the city council voted against allowing a church to be built at Rankin and Third Streets.

In a 4-1 decision, the council stopped the new church on the grounds of its high density for the area, even though all requests had been fulfilled. Mayor Charles Lamb voted yes.

The decision surprised people on both sides of the issue.

Members with The Church in Edmond had appeared before three city council meetings, with neighbors objecting about issues on parking, drainage and windows on the second floor.

“It makes us feel good that the city council listened to the negotiations we had and what they were proposing,” said Patty Wagstaff, a nearby resident.

At the last meeting on Jan. 22, council members requested the church have its second story windows on the east and south sides either be opaque or have a way people could not look into neighbors' backyards.

Peter Morrical, a church representative, brought a window with opaque glass to show those in attendance at the city council meeting Monday.

“We think this provides what the neighborhood is seeking and asking for in terms of privacy,” Morrical said.

Only four neighbors showed up to object to the project this week, and although they agreed the windows would work, they still had concerns about the size of the church.

In total, the church could have had 66 seats and 22 parking spaces, which is within the city code of one space for every three seats, said City Planner Randy Entz.

“At the point we outgrow this facility and the parking, our desire is to find another facility or another property,” said Tom Cochran, another representative from the church.

“This would always remain, in our view, a very important facility to serve the campus," he said.

However, church officials said the location would only be a short-term solution and would serve as a campus ministry if the church grew.

“I appreciate everybody’s effort on this,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth Waner, even though she voted no. “We just do not know what else could happen here in the future.”

Two variances were being requested, including a change to part of a parking lot and a smaller landscape buffer. But Waner said those variances would make the property too dense.

“It is a very tight piece of ground,” said Lamb. He recalled that several items have been proposed at the location over the years and said this was a decent proposal.