COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Planning Commission is scheduled on Monday to consider a request from the American Moslem Society for a Special Use Permit and Site Plan Review for a Place of Worship use in an A-2 One and Two-Family Residential zoning district at 129 Perkins Street.
City Planner Dean Walrack says in his report to the Commission that the applicant wants to construct a Place of Worship and language School which would consist of two floors and a basement. It would cover over 33,000 square feet.
Walrack says the two-and-a-half acre site is the current location of the American Moslem Society’s cultural center.
The development plan will include the retention of the current cultural center building as well as the removal of a single-family residence and a store.
A new building would be constructed along with the installation of associated parking, landscaping, and stormwater detention facilities.
Walrack goes on to say the Place of Worship use will be the primary function of the site with the language and cultural School use taking place on weekends.
While the staff feels the site is appropriate for the proposed special land use, they are not recommending the site plan be approved without further information from the applicant. Walrack says the recommendation for approval of the special land use is based upon the understanding that the Educational function is limited to religious and cultural studies and not as a grade school, middle school or high school.
Walrack said they have gotten two letters opposing the special use. Someone also phoned in concerns about parking, traffic issues, accidents and the impact that an expansion may have.
