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Webster Church will get what it asked for

By Rose Hooper

"We gave them what they wanted, but I don't think they asked for what they wanted," Webster Town Board member Jean Davenport said following board action on a public hearing. Webster Baptist Church had asked the town for an amendment to its zoning ordinance to permit a permanent church sign with a lettering area of 4 feet by 8 feet. The 32 square feet exceeds the current ordinance allowing churches to have one permanent sign of up to 16 square feet.

No opposition was voiced during a hearing on the ordinance amendment March 16. At the 7 p.m. board meeting directly following the 6:30 p.m. hearing, the board voted to grant Webster Baptist Church's request.

"I bet what they want is a new sign, and they probably haven't thought that they would have to tear down their old sign," said board member Skip Englebright.

The older sign sits on the lawn next to the church. The large mobile sign in the parking lot, out of compliance with the zoning ordinance, must be removed by May 1, the board determined.

"Churches are in the message business. Our message is to spread God's word," church member Tom Collins said during the hearing. "We are also in the community business. A larger sign will help publicize our message in the community. We feel like we're an asset to the community."

Church Pastor Mike Dillinger said studies have shown that signs with changeable letters help improve the involvement and morale of the community.

"When we put up the mobile sign, we didn't have in mind that we were breaking the law," he told the town board.

Collins added, "The sign was not left up in defiance. We just took too long in taking action." Church member Ann Hall added, "Our work is done on a volunteer basis... we will request that the men of the church start on this right away." She said as the church designs its new permanent sign "we want to keep up with the times, but not detract from our heritage."

As far as the church having to remove its current permanent sign to build a larger one, zoning administrator Jim Myers said, "I'm not going to make that an issue unless somebody complains about it."

A private citizen making a private complaint to the board is guaranteed anonymity. However, if the complaint is made during a public hearing or meeting, the person's identity becomes public record.

In other action at the March 16 meeting, Vice Mayor Steve Gray was voted mayor, replacing Bob Baker, who died March 7.

The board voted to present Baker's widow, Evelyn, with a flowering dogwood as a tribute to her husband. As an additional memorial, the town will donate $100 to the Heart Fund.

One seat on the town board now remains vacant, and anyone interested in serving is asked to contact Gray or any board member.

Back to Archive: 03/23/00.