Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - March 11, 2025
Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - March 11, 2025
The Germantown Board of Zoning Appeals met on March 11, 2025, at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The board unanimously approved a use on appeal and variance for Harvest Church to expand its facilities and parking, subject to a condition requiring robust landscaping buffers.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from the January 14, 2025 meeting by unanimous vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Spence Ray, representing Harvest Church, testified in favor of the application. He stated the church has been in Germantown over 11 years, currently runs shuttles from Germantown Elementary School, and seeks to add 87 net parking spaces to accommodate growth. He committed to a high-quality landscaping plan along Winchester and Forest Hill-Irene Roads.
Discussion Items
- Staff presented the request for a use on appeal (expansion of existing church use in R single-family residential district) and a variance to allow parking in the front yard setback (10-foot encroachment on Winchester Road, 20-foot on Forest Hill-Irene Road).
- The board discussed the site's history: four previous approvals (three use on appeal, one denied due to variance request). The current proposal does not require a variance for the building, only for parking.
- Concerns were raised about the need for a robust landscaping buffer to screen the parking lot from the street. The board emphasized that the property is a gateway to the city and the landscaping should be "robust." The applicant committed to working with the Design Review Commission.
- The board noted that the parking alignment on Forest Hill-Irene matches adjacent commercial properties, but the code requires different setbacks due to residential zoning.
- The applicant described plans for an urban park area between buildings to improve pedestrian connectivity and campus aesthetics.
Key Outcomes
- The board unanimously approved the use on appeal and variance (motion by Mr. Bland, seconded, with a friendly amendment to require a robust landscape buffer on Winchester and Forest Hill-Irene). All seven members voted yes.
- Members cited exceptional topographical conditions, the property's unique circumstances, and the safety and well-being of the public as reasons for approval.
- The project will proceed to the Planning Commission and Design Review Commission for further review of site plan and landscaping details.
Meeting Transcript
On your mic. Today is March the 11th, 2025, and this is the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting, and I now call that to order. I have two announcements to make. First is we're a quasi judicial body, and therefore anyone who speaks before the body tonight, including staff, will need to be sworn in. At this time, uh I'd like to swear in the staff. Staff, please raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God? Yes. Okay. Second, all of our motions are made in the affirmative. As a result of that, it does not necessarily mean that the person making the motion or seconding the motion will actually vote for the motion when the roll is called. Anyone wishing to speak to us tonight when you come to the podium? Uh you'll need to be sworn in. And we ask you, please state your name and address loudly so it can be entered into the record. Will Secretary please call the roll. Established quorum. Mr. Bland. Present. Miss Meanwell. Here. Mr. Town. Here. Mr. McDermott. Here. Mr. Jacobs. Here. Vice Mayor Gibson? Here. Oh, Chairman Yulhorn. Here. The next item on our agenda is to approve the minutes from our last meeting, which was what date? January 14th. January 14th, 2025. Move to approve. Second. Okay. Have a motion is second. Will you please call the roll? Mr. Bland. Yes. Miss Meanwell. Yes. Mr. Town. Yes.
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