STUART, Fla.â€â€Plans for a new sanctuary for the First United Methodist Church here received final approval April 1 from the Martin County Development Review Committee.
According to the Palm Beach News, the 98,096-square-foot building would cost more than $10 million, Senior Pastor Mike Shirley said. The congregation is scheduled to decide April 25 whether to proceed with the project.
"We're just taking it a step at a time," Shirley said. "We're moving along, but we're not in a rush."
The new facilityâ€â€which would include a 1,600-seat sanctuary, offices and classroomsâ€â€has been proposed for a 17-acre site. The new facility would replace the church's current building, which lacks enough space to accommodate all the congregation's programs.
The Development Review Committee voted unanimously to approve the church plans. The plans do not need approval from the County Commission because the building does not exceed the 100,000-square-foot threshold, county officials said.
In January, the church received permission from the county Board of Zoning Adjustment for the main section of the building to rise to 40 feet, 10 feet above the height limit called for by the property's zoning.
