Two Columbia County churches are each seeking zoning changes on their properties to accommodate their growing congregations.
Word of Life Christian Church, 6389 Washington Road, sits on nearly 7 acres between Wildwood Park and the Leah community.
The church is requesting a change in its S-1 zoning status to erect a pre-engineered metal building for a multipurpose facility, according to the Sept. 4 application.
"The exact size of the proposed multipurpose building is not known at this time. The cost of construction will be the determining factor," according to the project narrative accompanying the rezoning application. "However, the building size is not expected to exceed
the previously approved building size of approximately 8,750 square feet."
Future improvements include paving the church's parking area to create 30 more spaces.
The main church building is about 8,000 square feet. Its current 3,000-square-foot sanctuary seats about 160 people.
Impact Church, 193 N. Louisville St. in Harlem, currently operates out of a storefront near the center of town.
The church wants to buy and subdivide a 50-acre parcel of land less than a mile east of Harlem into five parcels. Impact would build a new main church with adjacent parking on a mostly unforested 12-acre parcel.
The 50-acre parcel is owned by Billy Williams. The remaining lots, zoned for agricultural use, are expected to be developed later "for residential use," according to the application's project narrative.
Both churches' requests are scheduled to be considered by the Columbia County Planning Commission at its Oct. 1 meeting.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Two Columbia County churches seek zoning changes for growth
