Akron church hoping to relocate to North Hawkins site facing resistance

1/22/2015 - West Side Leader

WEST AKRON The proposed construction of a church on North Hawkins Avenue near Garman Road will be before Akrons Zoning Appeals Board again next week after the issue was postponed due to residents concerns.

Councilwoman Marilyn Keith (D-Ward 8) said the issue was before the board Dec. 17, but she asked for more time after hearing from neighbors concerned about the project.

The Rev. Wayne Hoye, pastor of Greater Works Church, said members currently meet at Mason Community Learning Center in East Akron. He said the Hawkins site is attractive to the church because there are opportunities to provide outreach in the neighborhood.

For a lot of the people in that area, it would be beneficial, he said, noting the church would like to offer food programs and a preschool.

The property in question is a 3-acre wooded area just south of the railroad tracks. The church does not own the property yet but has an agreement with the owner, Hoye said.

The property is zoned residential, Keith said. City officials said Akrons zoning code gives the Board of Zoning Appeals the authority to grant approval for a church in a residential district provided parking requirements are met.

Bryden Drive resident Elizabeth Smith is among a group of residents opposed to the project. The church would be in her backyard, she said.

Nobody has anything against the pastor or his church, she said. That area should be residential and thats what we said to the zoning board.

She added there are concerns with water runoff from the proposed churchs parking lot, as well as with an expected increase in traffic at the intersection of Garman and North Hawkins. The construction would also remove trees that currently cut down on noise from the trains that go by on the tracks there, she added.

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Akron church hoping to relocate to North Hawkins site facing resistance