Well, it seems as though religious persecution is finally knocking at Crestview's door.
Being in a place where matters of faith seem a high priority for many people, I guess you thought it would never happen.
But the City Council, at its June 8 or June 22 meeting, will receive a proposal from the Local Planning Agency — as recommended by growth management consultant Jack Dorman of Destin — that will basically get rid of downtown Crestview churches.
NO REBUILDING, RENOVATING OR EXPANDING
A proposal to amend the Comprehensive Plan: 2020 would exclude places of worship within the Downtown Mixed Use area.
The Local Planning Agency's Sept. 16, 2014 meeting minutes show “Mr. Dorman stated that churches were not included as a permitted use for the downtown district as they do not fit in with vibrant atmosphere intended for downtown. We are not anti-church but feel the churches would not be comfortable in that atmosphere.
"Any churches already established in the downtown district at the time of approval will be considered grandfathered in but will not be able to expand the building in any way, according to the City Code of Ordinance.”
Dorman's April 13 memo to Teresa Gaillard, the city's growth management director, states, “There are several properties in the city that have been developed for many years with structures and/or uses that are not consistent with the current zoning district regulations or the adopted Future Land Use Map, or both. These should be corrected as funding comes available.
"It is very important to minimize the exposure of these properties to add difficulty and, perhaps, elimination, should a fire or other disaster cause the structures and uses to no longer be eligible to be rebuilt under the provisions … regarding non-conforming uses and structures. If funding is made available during the coming fiscal year, the FLUM changes and zoning corrections should be made.”
This is interpreted as if a storefront church moves out of its rented space, another may not move in. No new churches may be established. It is also my understanding that if First Presbyterian Church or Lifepoint Church, located within the described zone, suffered a catastrophe, the church could rebuild to the exact square footage and footprint, but not be issued a certificate of occupancy —effectively keeping a church from rebuilding. These two churches, plus the number of existing storefront churches, would also be prohibited from renovating or expanding.
'MORALITY IS CHANGING'
I take exception to the statement that churches "do not fit in with vibrant atmosphere intended for downtown."
I also take exception to people assuming what would cause a church to feel comfortable, or not, in the surrounding area in which it feels called to serve.
The Sept. 16, 2014 meeting minutes also state, “The planning official advised we want our churches in Crestview to grow and expand but just not in the downtown area."
It comes down to tax revenue, money and limitations on the types of businesses that can be established within legally specified distances of places of worship.
Places of worship's presence, in essence, holds a city accountable for its businesses' moral content. Just because a person or group wants to make money by exploiting a person’s habit, addiction or promiscuous proclivities does not mean the city must condone such a business.
If this amendment should pass, it would mean — to use religious terms — that the city officials are selling the city’s soul to the devil.
Who knows. Perhaps those who might make a decision to change the zoning don’t really care about that. The world is changing. Morality is changing.
But that does not make it right.
The Rev. Mark Broadhead is Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview's pastor.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: Crestview officials could be 'selling the city’s soul to the devil'