Members of Open Word Christian

Ministries showed up in large numbers at Fairburn's City Council meeting

Monday night to support their proposed rezoning for Public Service (PS)

District.

Open Word had applied for a

rezoning of its property at the corner of Ga. Highway 92 and Dodson Road

from R-1 Residential to Office and Institutional. Just recently, the Planning

Commission voted to recommend that the proposed rezoning not be approved

due to the church's future plans to have several outreach programs that

could possibly result in improper encroachment for the surrounding residential

area.

It was recommended for Open

Word to rezone under the PS District. According to City Administrator

Jim Williams, he thinks that the PS rezoning for the church would be the

best thing for the church's future activities whether activities are social

or indoor athletic.

City Councilmen took their

time Monday night before approving the rezoning due to a few residential

concerns about the proposal. Some residents were concerned about the church's

free ability to turn their future office home into a gymnasium that could

bring about a tremendous disturbance of noise, particularly from teenagers.

In addition, City Councilman

Harvey Melear was a bit concerned for residential peace in the area. Under

the PS District, he recommended that Open Word needed to agree to redo

their driveway entrance to the home property so that it will not interfere

with traffic on Hwy. 92. Melear also asked the ministry to agree for a

buffer to go in between their property and the residential home next door

to it.

According to Jim Williams,

the PS rezoning ordinance already states that buffers must be provided

to separate adjoining residential lots with a landscaped buffer of at

least 25 feet wide that will provide for reasonable visual and functional

separation.

The purpose of the Public Service

District is to promote the development of public service facilities in

areas where they will be accessible to the public but not improperly encroach

into residential areas or unduly contribute to traffic congestion in surrounding

neighborhoods. Examples of public service facilities are publicly owned

buildings, facilities and lands; private non-profit buildings, facilities

and lands; and churches and church complexes.

Gary K. Taylor, Pastor of Open

Word Christian Ministries, says that he has no problem with the recommendations

for a buffer and new driveway entrance for residential privacy. Pastor

Taylor has no future intentions on turning his property into a gymnasium.

He said that the home he purchased will be used for his office and for

administrative meetings only, not for overnight stays or shelters.

"We are not in the neighborhood

to cause any ruckus, we're here to be an asset to the community and not

a liability," said Taylor.

Taylor said he prays that the

community and he can work together.