Montrose Baptist Church seeks rezoning of Rockville property — Gazette.Net

Montrose Baptist Church is looking to move out of its current Rockville property where it holds services and runs the Montrose Christian School, to rezone it to allow for the construction of townhouses.

Some of the churchs neighbors, however, are concerned the townhouses would lead to increased traffic around their homes.

In a letter sent to community members, Ken Fentress the churchs senior pastor and the schools chancellor said the church decided to change locations to move closer to where its congregation members and students live.

The church filed an application with the county to make a zoning change after consulting with experts about potential property uses, Fentress said in the letter.

We have been mindful of the neighborhood character, and with [the experts] assistance have concluded that the property would be best redeveloped with attached single family residential homes, he said in the letter.

The church planned to hold a meeting in May or June to provide more information to community members about the proposed townhomes, according to the letter.

The Montgomery County Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings is scheduled to hold a hearing about the churchs application on Sept. 22, according to the county website.

Calls to reach Fentress at the church were not returned.

The church held its first service at its current location in 1958, according to its website.

According to state tax records, the church owns more than 5 acres on Randolph Road.

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Montrose Baptist Church seeks rezoning of Rockville property -- Gazette.Net