Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 14, 1993                   TAG: 9309140219
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MICHAEL CSOLLANY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

PERMIT APPROVED FOR CHURCH BUILDING

Radford City Council granted a permit to the city's congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses to build a Kingdom Hall on the property it owns next to Grove United Methodist Church on Tyler Avenue.

Grove Church members contended a new church would cause traffic safety problems along Tyler Avenue. A report by city engineers said the street could accommodate the additional traffic.

Last year, council considered the same special-use permit request and deadlocked on it 2-2. Council member Bob Nicholson was not present.

This year, Nicholson - a member of Grove Church - was present. In an emotional statement, he explained his decision to support the permit and go against the wishes of his church's officials.

"I hope that none of you are ever put through what I am being put through. . . . I've had one year to resolve this issue in my mind and search for an answer," he said.

In the year's time in which the issue has been debated, Nicholson said, he had not heard a single request for a moratorium on all construction on Tyler Avenue - only requests to keep the Jehovah's Witnesses from building.

"I would have preferred that Grove had purchased the property, but that's not the issue," he said.

Nicholson joined council members David Worrell and Gary Weddle in approving the permit request. Mayor Thomas Starnes and Councilwoman Polly Corn - also a Grove Church member - voted against the request.

The Jehovah's Witnesses and the Methodists had been cooperating since May in trying to find an alternative site for the Kingdom Hall. However, Steve Waller, a Jehovah's Witnesses official, said none of the sites were "affordable and suitable."

The congregation needed a special-use permit to build the one-story brick building on the vacant lot, which is zoned for residential use. Last month, the Planning Commission voted 5-2 to recommend the approval.

In other business, council approved the purchase of a fire engine from Emergency One in Richmond at a cost of $232,228. Fire Chief Martin Robert originally requested two engines because prices would be much higher if the purchases were delayed, he said.