Before hiring a construction company to help build a church, it is vital to take into account the possibilities of expansion as well as the possibilities to adapt to future changes without the need to acquire additional space than the one already present. In some cases, pre-construction and pre-construction is sufficient as the church site was already zoned for a future building. In other cases, you may need to have additional zoning to accommodate future church growth. The good news is that you can add more than one building to your church site without facing major zoning issues. There are a few zoned areas that are shared by other nearby buildings, or you may have to obtain different zoning to accommodate future buildings.
Share Areas
Share areas are the most difficult zoning to get. They are commonly obtained by the addition of the perimeter of a future building to an existing church. In order to obtain a shared area, you generally will need additional residential zoning. When you add the perimeter of a future building, a shared area is automatically added and the maximum lot area per enclosure is increased. If you add the entire foundation and necessary construction of ventilating features, you would need a company like Axis Builders to construct the church and do the initial estimate.
Interior zoned areas are usually received with just a small bit of excess lot area. The extra room is used for landscaping and parking.
Zoning Constraints
In order to obtain a zone change, you will need to get some more zoning areas. For example, if your zone is zone D1-2, you would need to obtain zone E3-F4. Some zones are only available at the Zoning Board of Adjustment (BOAA). You can find the zone at the BOAA by calling your local zoning administrator. You may have to wait in a long line to obtain the zone, but it is worth the wait! You will want to call ahead of time and request the zone change.
Most zoning applications are free, but you may need to get an additional residential Zoning, and/or additional zoning which is shared with a project or industrial use. Zoning applications can cost anywhere from $250-$5000. Zoning applications are fairly straightforward. The application itself consists of a few pictures and an estimate of the costs. The estimate is based on the zoning of your area and the zone of your future use. The different uses can range from single family to multiple unit, and even hotel or office.
How to write the perfect Zoning Plan and Apply
- Select the zone(ies). Zone(ies) will vary by zone. In zone E3-F4, zone(ies), single-family is the most common. Zone F1-F5 is usually obtained by a future use application which will include the use of single-family zones. For use of this zone, you will require use of the commercial zoning in the zone.
- Your Zoning Plan and Zoning Application should include the zoning of your future use. Select the zone(ies). Zone(ies) will vary by zone. In zone E3-F4, single-family is the most common. Zone F1-F5 is usually obtained by a future use application which will include the use of single-family zones. For use of this zone, you will require use of the commercial zoning in the zone.
- This process usually takes about 2 weeks.
Zoning procedures are very important for planning. You should also make a note of the maximum and minimum lot sizes. A lot size is the smallest area in the square that can be developed with a proposed use. Maximum lot size requires that you provide the parking for any vehicles that will be using the lot. The zoning laws also require that you provide and ample parking for visitors and residents. Zoning laws can be obtained from your local zoning administrator. You must make sure that the zoning rules on height, privacy, setback, and street tree area are adhered to.
As an owner-operator of a retail store, you will require parking for your customers and employees. It is important that the parking lot meets the zoning regulations. This is because the zoning ordinances govern the minimum and maximum lot sizes. You should not enlarge the lot too much. The regulations also require that the lot is contiguous with other lots. Generally, the zoning laws also require that for every 100 square feet of lot area, you must provide 6 parking spaces.
