Old Landmark

Church of God and Christ on Margaret Street in Fairburn is too big, 23.5

feet too big to be exact. The request for a variance on the front yard

setback was denied during Tuesday night's Board of Zoning Appeal meeting.

Although a

2.1 acre lot was purchased by the church in an attempt to alleviate the

mistake, that was only one of the church's problems, officials said.

"The biggest

obstacles are the size of the building situated in the midst of residential

homes, the location of the building so close to the street, and the access

of a local street to get to the facility," said Planning Director

Gail Denham.

Construction

began on the site back in 1998, the same year that Fairburn adopted a

new zoning ordinance and rezoned several areas of the city. Margaret Street

was rezoned at this time as R-4, "a high density residential area"

designed to "promote construction of dwellings with reduced square

footage on smaller sized lots" Denham said.

The new guidelines

provide for "conditional use approval" if a few requirements

are met. Old Landmark Church of God and Christ had failed to meet these

needs which requires lots to be a minimum of one acre and have frontage

on and direct access to an arterial or major collection road.

With the help

of the Fulton County Fire Department, an existing dwelling on the lot

was razed as training practice for their firemen without first procuring

a demolition permit from the city.

The church

was being constructed with the help of volunteer labor and was issued

a Stop Work Permit by the city. There had been no construction plans submitted

and no thought as to parking solutions, officials said. A building permit

was applied for, but not approved.

In an attempt

to cover parking requirements, another .22 acre lot at the corner of Orchard

Street and Margaret Street was purchased. All this may be for naught though

without the variance approval.

Without the

city's approval, they may have to reconstruct the building to meet code,

move the building or simply find another place to worship.

As one impassioned

church member put it, "We are here to do a work for the Lord. I think

we deserve another chance."

The congregation

hopes to come before the City Council at their Monday meeting in order

to resurrect their requests.