DESPITE parking and noise concerns from neighbours, a former warehouse in Endsleigh Avenue is likely to become home to a place of worship.
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Orange City Council will consider the conversion, to be renamed Open Heavens Church, at a meeting on Tuesday and staff have recommended approval.
The $500,000 development would provide seating for 150 people in its auditorium and extend the front of the 1960s building to include a foyer, crying room, toddler room and accessible toilet.
Twenty-three parking spaces would be provided to the rear of the complex, via a laneway.
The total is 57 spaces short of the council’s requirements based on floor area, but the applicant argued it was only three spaces short because the auditorium was the main use.
The applicant also argued the meeting rooms would not be used at the same time as the auditorium and the parking provided would cover the need and street parking would be adequate during peak times.
The church proposes two 90-minute services on Sunday mornings and pastoral activities on weekdays between 7pm and 9.30pm.
“The above hours of operation will be outside of core business hours meaning that this development will not compete with nearby businesses such as the DPI for available parking stock in the locality,” the applicant’s submission said.
“This would account for far more of the demand for on-street parking than at times outside of core business hours used by residents.”
One resident was concerned parking on weekends or during funerals would take up both sides of Endsleigh Avenue and neighbours should not having to put up with noise until 9.30pm – two-metre fences have been added as conditions of consent.
It will be up to councillors on whether to charge $21,202 in parking contributions or the full $609,715.