THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 17, 1994 TAG: 9407150222
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Churches are a dilemma for City Council.
Every month they're on the agenda seeking use permits or rezoning and tax examptions.
Last year a majority of council members made an informal pact to deny churches and other tax-exempt groups permits for occupancy of buildings zoned for business uses. Since then, there has been no letup in the numbers of groups seeking to break the barrier.
This week was no exception. Two more churches wanted to take away some of Portsmouth's tax base.
Council had no trouble denying a request from Rapture Ministries that wanted to move into the old Commonwealth College building in a shopping center on Portsmouth Boulevard.
Then came St. Mark's Church of Deliverance, a 200-person congregation that 15 years ago moved into an old church building at the corner of Washington and County streets. The church, represented by attorney Donald Kilgore, wants to buy the former Trailways bus depot next door, owned by former State Sen. Johnny Joannou, and remove it from the tax rolls. Council denied the request by a close 4-3 vote. Two new members, Jim Martin and Ward Robinett, who had not been involved in last year's agreement, voted with Jim Hawks in the minority.
Before voting to allow the church to take the building off the tax rolls, Councilman Hawks said he foresees other downtown churches having the same dilemma and implied that he would favor supporting the expansion of any of them. He named Trinity, St. John's, First Presbyterian, Court Street Baptist and First Lutheran. If each of those churches sought to expand to nearby vacant buildings, downtown Portsmouth as a business district would be wiped out.
The property St. Mark's wants to buy is in the downtown area that is expected to blossom over the next few years. The four council members who voted to keep it in the business district and on the tax rolls did the right thing.
It's always hard to deny churches because some will accuse the city of being against religion. However, council members who voted against the use permit should be given credit for having the gumption to stand up for what they believe is the best interest of the city. That's what voters elected them to do.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL
by CNB