VICTORY!!!!
I just got off the phone with Will and Mr Burgunder, our attorney.
We are approved as a 4 unit dwelling grandfathered in an R4 Zone & the zoning commision determined that the religious use did not fall under the requirements of a general religious institutions.
We should receive a letter within 6-8 weeks which will have have the actual wording. Once we get that, someone will have to go downtown and pick up a permit for a 4 dwelling unit grandfathered in an R4 residential zoning area.
Basically they declined to address it cause it was a bit silly but there you are. This is now one less shoe that could potentially drop in the future. Now if we decided to but benches in rows inside and a pulpit in the corner...we might have more problems but as it stands...they think if we are crazy enough to stand outside in Feb...well then we're just crazy but mostly harmless. I think the original problem stems from the inspector thinking that we hold our services inside. No the inside is just common areas and parsonage.
Will and I were on the phone to the lawyer this morning to ask his help in crafting a standard explanation to be memorized and regurgitated to every building inspector who comes along in the future. He also said he would write us a letter explaining the commision's determination.
Hussah!!!
