Saturday, January 23, 1999
Hearing set on home for pregnant teens
Monroe church appeals denial
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MONROE — Lawyers for Solid Rock Church and its neighbors are gearing up to present their cases to the board of zoning appeals Feb. 10 over the church's plans to build a home for pregnant teen-agers.
The board will hear arguments from Jay Stewart, assistant city manager and the zon ing enforcement officer, and then from the attorneys for both sides, said Jon Nerenberg, board chairman.
The board usually deliberates publicly and renders a decision the same day, Mr. Nerenberg said.
“We're not overruling a previous decision. We're starting from scratch,” he said.
The nondenominational church, which is in the Warren County section of Monroe, has been trying since summer to get approval to build the nearly $1 million Darlene Bishop home for 30 unwed pregnant teen-agers.
Church neighbors Jay and Helen Frick, who own Traders World flea market and Cincinnati Zoysia Inc., have argued that allowing the home in an industrial zone near their property could hinder their chances to market the land. Various rezoning applications have been denied, including one defining the home as a motel.
The church's Jan. 15 appeal to the zoning appeals board followed a Jan. 7 decision denying the church's application for a building and zoning permit and site plan review under its 1985 conditional-use permit.
The decisions were based on an opinion by City Law Director Philip Callahan that the 1985 permit was for the church only.
The church's position before the board will be simple, said Karri Haffner, attorney for Solid Rock.
“Our argument is that the church's 1985 conditional-use permit allows the proposed use, and it's the only zoning approval we need from the city of Monroe,” Mrs. Haffner said.
If the board rules against the church, Mrs. Haffner said, she will likely appeal the decision to common pleas court.
Peter Koenig, the Fricks' attorney, said he will argue that the decision by the zoning enforcement officer and the law director was the proper ruling.
“We have consistently suggested that the home should be placed in an appropriate residential zone,” Mr. Koenig said.
The board of zoning appeals, which meets at 7 p.m. in the firehouse, 6262 Hamilton-Middletown Road, also will consider a variance request to put a billboard on Senate Drive.
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