WESTMINSTER : Council OKs Plan to Expand Church
The City Council has disregarded the Planning Commission’s recommendations and voted this week to approve a request by the First Samoan Congregational Church of Westminster to add 2,100 square feet of floor area to its building on Hoover Street.
Planning Commission members had recommended that the church’s request for a conditional use permit be denied because they said the plan provided inadequate parking and potential reduction in landscaping.
But the council decided the difficulties could be resolved.
“I’m normally hard-core on variances,” said Mayor Charles V. Smith. “But there are extenuating circumstances here, including hardship.”
The congregation has an agreement with the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is across the street, that allows church members to park their vehicles in the DMV lot.
Council members pointed out that even if the contract with the DMV is not renewed, there would be adequate street parking.
“I’m very happy,” said the Rev. Selefuti Pemasa, who added that the 300-member church, a fixture in Westminster since 1974, plans to soon begin building and expanding various programs.
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