County commissioners OK two church projects

Although churches offer many people comfort, they don't always fit comfortably in a neighborhood.

Two church projects met resistance at a Clark County Commission meeting Wednesday, one from neighbors and the other from commissioners.

Hope Baptist Church asked for a 250-space parking lot off Pebble Road near Giles Street in Enterprise, causing some residents to worry that it would draw at least 1,000 more people to the church than the 1,700 who attend services now.

Several neighbors complained about increased traffic and children making noise at a church playground from mornings until late evenings on weekends. Adding a parking area would escalate the problems and further erode the area's rural character, they said.

The church's pastor, Vance Pitman, argued that a parking lot would accommodate the congregation's growth, not boost it.

He said that attendance has nearly tripled in the past four years, without the help of additional parking.

"Parking is not why people come," Pitman said. "It's the ministry, the message."

Most commissioners agreed with that sentiment and approved the new parking lot.

More than 100 people from the church came to show support, and an attorney representing neighbors said that 48 people signed a petition opposing the project.

People moved to the area to ride horses, raise animals and enjoy the countryside, and now their quality of life has been disrupted, Chad Miller said. He described the playground noise as a "continual rattlebox" that does not cease until 9 p.m. on Sundays.

"There should be a time frame when people can enjoy their lives," he said.

Miller said he feared that churchgoers would be offended by the smell of his livestock and demand he get rid of the animals.

Jill Dalesando said she had made Enterprise her home years ago but finally moved out of her house and leased it to a tenant because she could not stand the hubbub anymore.

No one is questioning the church's good works, only the effects of ballooning attendance, she said. "The church has outgrown the neighborhood."

The commission told Pitman to install soundproofing to muffle playground noise echoing off a stone wall.

The church's second phase, a 12,000-square-foot building, should include an indoor play area for children, Commissioner Bruce Woodbury said.

Commissioners also asked that the congregation accept neighbors' animals without complaint.

Pitman agreed to the terms.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas proposed a 1,600-seat church near Lindell Road and Mohawk Street.

Most commissioners expressed doubts about building a church that large in the neighborhood.

"It's not so much the size, as where it is," Commissioner Susan Brager said. "There sounds like there's a little more to compromise here. What about a thousand (seats)?"

Ernie Freggario, an engineering consultant for the diocese, said that given the dearth of priests these days, a structure must be bigger.

There simply are not enough priests to oversee a slew of smaller churches, he said.

The commission decided to allow a 1,000-seat church.

Freggario appeared disappointed and said he would tell the bishop of the decision.

Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or (702) 455-4519.