A rezoning request from Jefferson First United Methodist Church to allow a parking lot was approved by the Jefferson City Council Monday night. The only condition is that the zoning will change back to residential if the property is ever sold by the church.
The council unanimously agreed to the request from Jefferson First United Methodist Church to rezone 1.83 acres on Cooley Street and Storey Street from R-2 (residential) to O-I (office-institutional) to locate the parking lot. At an earlier meeting, church spokesman Ron Bond said the church membership has grown and available parking is less than it once was.
“It is a necessity because, in recent years, some of the houses closest to our church have changed ownership,” he said. “Some of these new neighbors have requested that we not park on their property. We have lost three blocks of property that was originally used for church parking…. Parking is a major problem.”
At that earlier meeting, some neighbors spoke in opposition to the rezoning.
not opposed to them but I think there are more serious
areas that need attention in our town. At the intersection
of Hwy 129 and Hwy 11 there needs to be turn signals for
all directions. I have personally almost been hit twice
trying to turn on to Hwy 129 South towards Athens. As
many wrecks that have already happened at this intersection
I think this would bring a point of interest before someone
is seriously hurt or worse. I would especially think with
one of our schools right in this area it would be of
great importance to make this intersection safe as
possible.