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City refines church plans Jacksonville wants two buildings By MELISSA MARTIN JACKSONVILLE -- The Presbyterians' new church will be two buildings, instead of one, with parking lots in the back and on the side and landscaping to keep headlights from shining into neighbors' homes, the City Council agreed Tuesday. Jacksonville's council and Planning Commission met together to better define two of the 13 conditions of approval placed on First Presbyterian Church's plans for a 400-seat sanctuary in the Pheasant Meadow Subdivision. The City Council on Jan. 10 approved the church's application for a conditional use permit, overturning Jacksonville Planning Commission's denial. Also on Tuesday, the council required the church to choose an architectural style that fits into the historic Jacksonville setting, add a steeple to the main sanctuary entrance in front and plant incense cedars to screen the church from South Stage Road. City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen showed the city's revised sketch of church plans. It's a return to a proposal the church submitted but then withdrew several years ago showing four cottage-like buildings in a campus setting, said council member Bill Leep. The City Council's efforts to break the building into two or three may reduce the impact of an 18,000-square-foot structure -- the equivalent of eight homes -- in the 40-home subdivision, said Planning Commissioner Terry Wilinsky. The City Council and Planning Commission also began work on the first and most controversial of the conditions, limiting church activities. Council members directed city staff to create a list that may include banning weddings and funerals at the new building and confining week-night activities to two hours. City Council member Joyce Coleman cautioned the group not to suffocate the church. "The church members might not be able to breathe except between the hours of 7 and 9 p.m.," Coleman said. "I think we're being too nit-picky. We don't want to get so specific that the church might want to withdraw its application." Attorney John Hassen said the church submitted a list of activities in its application last summer to show the council how First Presbyterian planned to use its proposed building in the subdivision and its current one on California Avenue, built nearly 120 years ago. "The church would rather not have any limitations on its activities, but just be able to operate as a church," Hassen said after the meeting. The City Council may also ask the church to stagger its worship services with Applegate Christian Fellowship near Ruch to reduce Sunday traffic in downtown Jacksonville. Presbyterian minister The Rev. Larry Jung said he would be glad to do that. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA