Beach Park church approved for recreation building

• Reprints

Updated: March 2, 2012 8:12AM

The Rev. Steven Brown of Beach Community Church is hopeful to start building a nearly 3,200-square-foot recreational accessory use building in the spring now that the Beach Park Village Board has approved a conditional-use permit and preliminary plans.

The planned 24-foot-tall structure will be separate from the church at 37283 N. Green Bay Road, and is to match the existing structure in design. The building abuts single-family homes.

The board also approved a minimum sideyard setback mirroring the recommendation from the village plan commission.

According to the pastor, the church is 10 years old and has approximately 165 members. During Sunday worship, a full band performs, including drums and electric guitars. He is hopeful the new recreational building will include space for more musical events, as well as basketball and volleyball.

Trustee Larry Wells said he heard concerns from nearby residents regarding noise and lights. Brown said he did a decibel reading outside the church and it was within satisfactory limits. The pastor also said plans call for the recreation building to close its doors at 10 p.m.

Several concerned residents attended previous planning board meetings on the issue, and told officials they were concerned with drainage if the structure gets built.

“(The church) addressed that and are meeting the requirements,” Trustee Mark Ottersen said. “Part of the plan is to increase the size of the retention pond.”

Jim Dozier, a retired heavy equipment operator who accompanied the pastor to the board Jan. 26 Village Board meeting, said he looks forward to having the recreation center at the church. “This will be great,” said Dozier, a church board member from Beach Park. “Anything to keep the kids off the streets.”

Brown said he hopes that by fall the structure will be completed. He added he would like to see everyone in the neighborhood make use of it. “I will go door-to-door and welcome everyone,” he said.