BEDFORD — A growing church near Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta received the blessing of Bedford County officials to expand.
In what some believe should be an automatic procedure, the Board of Supervisors on Monday approved a special-use permit for EastLake Community Church to build a 21,875-square-foot facility on 10 acres on Hendricks Store Road. A permit was called for because of commercial and low-density residential zoning of the parcel, which makes religious assemblies a special use.
Under current zoning laws, churches needing permits have to go before two governing boards, which each hold public hearings.
Forest District Supervisor John Sharp said Monday he feels clergy shouldn’t have to work so hard to get a “rubber stamp” of approval and that county staff should handle regulations.
“I’m sorry you had to come down here tonight to even ask permission,” Sharp said Monday to Troy Keaton, the pastor of EastLake.
The church is now located along Virginia 122 near Hendricks Store Road. Keaton said it formed in 2006 from a Roanoke affiliation and leases space for classes and events.
“We have known that a 2,800-square-foot building was going to be limiting,” said Keaton. “We have an ambition to move.”
The church’s request includes a future addition of nearly 16,000 square feet, a future maintenance building and an athletic field.
The Bedford County Planning Commission recently has talked about possible upcoming changes in the county’s zoning ordinance in regards to religious land use. None has yet reached
supervisors.
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