NEWARK, Calif. - City planners are balking at the prospect of an 1,800-member church expanding into a vacant building in a business park, according a news report.
The Argus reported the Newark Planning Commission would rather save the 44,000-square-foot building for a revenue-generating business than allow it to be sold to Fremont Bible Fellowship.
"The economy will turn around, and that's a very inviting building," assistant city manager John Becker told the newspaper. "We believe long term, there is a better use for that building."
The commission was to vote on the proposed sale Tuesday, with the final decision to be made by the city council at a later date, according to the newspaper.
Because churches are exempt from property taxes, the city, county and school district would lose about $55,000 a year. The city, which brings in about $7.4 million in property taxes yearly, would be out about $17,000, the newspaper reported.
The Rev. Horacio Jones, pastor of the church, said services the church would provide the community outweigh the financial impact.
"You can't put a dollar figure on the human impact," Jones said, noting that 70 percent of the church's programs are community based.
The church wants to buy the building for $4.5 million and spend another $2.5 million on improvements.
