It was a plan to save the church.
But an emotional appeal from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church failed in the face of Holmes Beach city commissioners’ disdain for vacation rentals.
The commission denied in a 4-1 vote the church’s application to rezone two parcels of property, with Commissioner Judy Titsworth voting in favor of the measure.
“That’s the hardest ‘aye’ I’ve ever had to say,” Titsworth said.
“This commission holds dear that property in its entirety as a beautiful focal point of our community,” she said.
In a worst-case scenario, the city planner told commissioners in September that the two parcels could support as many as five residential units.
The Rev. Rosemary Backer of Gloria Dei said the church is regrouping and re-examining its options, not giving up.
“We want this church to be here for years to come,” Backer said.
The church attorney told commissioners month’s ago that the rezone and sale of the property at maximum value was needed to save the church, which apparently faces financial instability without the influx of funds. The intent was to use the proceeds to develop an endowment fund.
The church asked to rezone 1.06 acres of the 2.96 acres that comprise the church property at 6608 Marina Drive in the hopes of selling it as medium-density residential, or R-2 property.
“A church is more than just a piece of property with a building on it,” Jay Poppe told commissioners. “The land was meant to be an asset, an investment for the future. We need to turn it into a liquid investment for growth.”
“My life got saved at this church,” Ryan Duncan said, appealing for the rezone. “I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for this church and I’m not the only one. How many chances do you have as commissioners to make a decision to impact the life of this community?”
Despite being approved by the planning commission as consistent with the comprehensive plan — the two lots are adjacent to R-2 zoned properties — the application was first denied Sept. 27 and soon after at the same meeting approved in order not to risk violating any rights of due process.
After hearing testimony, the commission denied it in the final vote, largely because approving the application for a land-use change from public/semi-public to medium-density residential, R-2 or duplex zoning, could allow development of as many as five short-term rental units.
“It’s very, very difficult to make choices between good and good,” Commissioner Jean Peelen said. “It’s uncomfortable at best.”
“This is a difficult decision that I’m still having issues with quite honestly,” Commissioner Marvin Grossman said before the vote.
Commissioners expressed some interest in potentially rezoning the property as R-1 or single-family residential, or a potential purchase for a city park, but either solution would require the church to come before them with a new application.