Church’s right

In 2021, Wycliffe Presbyterian Church elected to sell a portion of excess property to support the growth and longevity of its ministry. Wycliffe subsequently entered into a contract with a local developer.

The church was granted a use permit (now a conditional-use permit) by the city of Virginia Beach in 1966. The city website states: “A conditional-use permit (CUP) allows use on a property that’s not already allowed by right and requires additional review to ensure the requested use is appropriate for the proposed site.” The underlying property is zoned residential.

The matter went before City Council in November and was referred back to the city planning commission for further review. A substantially revised proposal specifically addressed citizens’ concerns about a pond that would have been reengineered in the initial plan.

Wycliffe must be unshackled from the governmental constraints that restrict the use of its land for potential buyers. The use permit was required by law to allow the church to exist. How could selling excess land and reduction of the present conditional-use permit footprint be denied as the church looks to reinforce its finances in these inflationary times?

For over 60 years, Wycliffe has been a beacon of support for many in Virginia Beach and around the world. These efforts are not free and require robust funding.

This matter is before the council Tuesday. Please ask your council member to help the light of our church burn ever brighter.

— David Gangwer, Virginia Beach