Life Church in De Pere will be able to start construction on their new house of worship.
The De Pere City Council voted in favor of rezoning the district, so that Life Church and establish their new congregation.
The De Pere Planning Commission recommended the City Council say no to re-zoning a plot of land for their use.
At De Pere City Hall the house was packed Tuesday night with Life Church members all hoping for one thing. They would like to see the city council rezone a plot of land and building that could accommodate their growing congregation.
On a typical Sunday more than 1,500 people will show up to Life Church to worship. But just 18 months into the church being established here, there's already a major concern.
"We're already out of space but we just see that getting even more problematic," says Sonny Hennessy the Executive Pastor at the congregation.
The solution was simple though, find a new home. The church managed to do that part of the problem by purchasing the vacant Sportsman's Warehouse in De Pere. After spending 1.75 million on it the city’s Planning Commission informed them the land was for retail space and not assembly use.
"It's a highway zoning... That is very restrictive. It's probably one of the most restrictive zones that we have in the entire city," says De Pere Mayor Mike Walsh
Tonight the Council had to make a decision on whether to rezone the plot of land or deny the request as the Planning Commission recommended. If it is denied, the church may sue. Representatives saying they will cite federal law that supports churches being in multiple different kinds of zoning if they wish too.
"We know that we'll get in there, it's a matter of how quick we will and if we have to file suit which we don't want to have to do that," adds Hennessy.
As of 10:30pm the Council voted in favor of rezoning the district so that the Life Church can establish their new congregation in De Pere. Likely thanks to the many church members who showed up in a wave of support Tuesday evening. Members of the congregation that also included three Green Bay Packers including James Jones, Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery.
Life church has goals of opening their new congregation in De Pere by Easter Sunday.
