THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505250466
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
After a round of successful talks between neighborhood and church leaders, the application of Calvary Revival Church to build a school on East Little Creek Road appears to be sailing smoothly forward.
On Tuesday, the City Council scheduled a public hearing for June 20 in council chambers on the application. The council will probably vote on the application the same day, council members said.
A story in Wednesday's editions of The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star incorrectly said the council had approved the application.
Under the proposed conditional zoning, the school could have kindergarten through ninth grade and up to 700 students. Initially, however, the school would be include only elementary grades, say church officials.
The 10-acre site is the location upon which Calvary Revival proposed in 1993 to build a new church with a 3,000-seat sanctuary. Surrounding neighborhoods opposed the church and started a petition campaign against it. African-American leaders supported the church.
The council in 1994 ended up reversing its original approval of the rezoning and not allowing the new church.
Councilman Randy Wright, who led opposition to the church in 1993 and 1994, said Wednesday he expects that the council to approve the application. The Planning Commission has unanimously recommended approval.
``The community and the church have worked together in an exemplary manner,'' Wright said.
In part because of neighborhood concerns, the conditional zoning for the school would set a number of limitations.
Cars and pedestrians could enter only via East Little Creek Road; that would keep traffic out of surrounding neighborhoods. Religious services would be allowed only as part of the educational program. The school would not be operated on Sunday. Off-site parking would be allowed only through a special exception process.
Richard Claytor, a senior administrator with Calvary Revival, said he expects no problems. Several minor disagreements that remained after the Planning Commission recommended approval, like the height of a surrounding fence, have been resolved through more discussions with the neighbors.
``We have had excellent dialogue between ourselves and the neighbors,'' Claytor said. ``I don't anticipate difficulties with it going through council.''
KEYWORDS: CALVARY REVIVAL CHURCH by CNB