Controversy in Santa Cruz Co. over church construction

TUMACACORI, Ariz.- They live by the golden rule, "do unto others as you would have others do unto you". It's a message one religious organization in Santa Cruz County is trying to spread to its neighbors, as a battle brews over their desire to expand in their small rural community.

A sense of peace surrounds a 165 acre property in Tumacacori, which belongs to a church group called the Global Community Communications Alliance. About 150 members live, learn and worship there together. "We are looking to do something in the way of community building that is not maybe status quo," GCCA Member Centria Lilly says.

For the past year they have wanted to build a 17,000 square foot church because the outdoor pavilion and indoor community room where they currently hold services, is no longer big enough. "We need the facility for our Sunday worship services, but also for adult and childrens' classrooms, for a library, and administrative offices," Lilly says.

But the GCCA is facing opposition from many of its neighbors, who say building the church will disrupt the peacefulness of their small community. "It just doesn't fit in with the area at all," Neighbor Dan Kirkham says.

Kirkham has lived in the area for more than a decade. He fears building the church will attract more people to the area, creating noise, destroying roads and disrupting water quality. "I'd like to see it not built, period, to stop, stop right now," Kirkham says.

He's not the only one. Last fall Santa Cruz County denied the GCCA's request for a building permit. Board members tell News 4 Tucson it was because the majority of neighbors oppose it and because the alliance never informed the Union Pacific railroad company that runs through the property of its plans. The county requires any property owner within 300 feet of construction must be notified.

"There are federal laws that support churches in providing them means to build and construct churches," Lilly says.

Which is why the GCCA filed an appeal this month. It hopes to settle the matter out of court. "We're hoping to build a bridge with all of the neighbors who have concerns," Lilly says.

But until then, the peacefulness of this small community might just be an illusion.

Continued here:
Controversy in Santa Cruz Co. over church construction