HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250071.tiffINVENTORY OF ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION
Applicant: Living Rock Church of Severance dba Calvary Severance Church
Case #: US R24-0017
Submitted or Prepared
Prior to
Hearing
At
Hearing
1
Surrounding
Property
Owner
Letter
1
— Chris
and Shelly
Swanson
X
2
Applicant
Presentation
X
I hereby certify that the two items identified herein was submitted to the Department of Planning Services at
or prior to the scheduled Planning Commissioners hearing.
Molly Wright, Planner I
August 25, 2024
Weld County Planning Services
1402 N. 17th Avenue
PO Box 758
Greeley, CO 80632
To Whom it May Concern,
This letter is in response to the Weld County Planning Services request for comments pertaining to
the Application Review for Case # USR24-0017, Living Rock Church of Severance Inc., proposed
project - USR for a church in the Agricultural Zone District. (For the purpose of this letter, Living
Rock Church of Severance is also known as Calvary Severance.)
This may be the only letter your office receives regarding this application as other properties in the
vicinity are not as affected by the proposed change of use as the property we own. This current
building (proposed Church and accompanying lot) is literally in our backyard (see attached picture)
The home we own is 12164 County Road 74 and it is directly Northeast of the proposed Church
property. Our property has been in our family (Swanson/Johnson/Franklin) for many years.
Ownership of the land goes beyond information provided on the Weld County Assessor's Property
Search page on the Internet (or at least what I am able to find due to the lack of inherited property
paperwork and surviving family members to provide such information as legal family names and
ownership dates). Despite the fact that I'm unable to find property records that date back two
additional generations, let it be said that I know I am the fifth generation to own this property and it
has always been farm/agricultural ground. This area once yielded corn, alfalfa, beans, sugar beets,
and has also pastured sheep with few neighboring farmhouses that were separated by acres and
acres of various pastures. The current proposal is NOT consistent with the Weld County
Comprehensive Plan per Chapter 22 of the Weld County code. This building that is under
consideration as a Church doesn't obviously respect Weld County's agricultural heritage and does
interfere and infringe on our rights. The open space and country feel will be not just compromised,
but will be completely eliminated with the addition/introduction beyond the unattractive black/gray
building (which they propose to enlarge by 4,000 square feet), but also the introduction of parking
lots, 85+ cars and vehicles every Sunday of the year and most certainly other days each week as
special events present themselves, the presence of ^J200+ people each and every Sunday plus
additional days and times during each week as events present themselves, as well as the future
addition of an amphitheater which will bring additional events, lights, audio speakers and
microphones. It's difficult to see how these additions/changes will maintain and embrace Weld
County's agricultural heritage and not infringe on neighboring properties rights.
It was a huge disappointment when Mr. Reiff built the house at 35938 County Road 25 (the church
property in question with regard to this letter) in 2020. The structure he erected is a large home that
completely removed a significant portion of the breathtaking mountain/foothill view our home had
enjoyed for decades (see included picture which Mr. Reiff used when selling his home). To add to
the disappointment, by not only completely obstructing the beautiful view, the structure he built is
a very large black/gray box with small uniform windows on the two sides of the structure that face
our home making the building look more like a warehouse rather than a country home. The mention
of Mr. Reiff building this home originally is just a side note and doesn't address the application
directly, other than the proposed use only further erases the ambiance, beauty, history and heritage
of the surrounding area. In essence, the disappointment and disregard of maintaining the country
and farming nature of the area with the creation of this building and the changes proposed is only
getting worse.
Additionally, a few things worth noting are as follows:
The answer provided to USR question #6 regarding hours and days of operation is vague and
understated. The response the filing entity provided states that the church intends to hold Sunday
services in the building and on the property from roughly 10am to 12:30pm. The answer further
states that small gatherings may take place at various times during the week. This language is an
understatement. Calvary Severance currently posts that Sunday prayer and fellowship starts at
9:30am with services beginning at 10:00am. Naturally, people begin showing up prior to 9:30am
and many linger beyond 12:30 pm. Calvary Severance has hosted many events (garage sales, bake
sales, musical events, youth activities such as kickball, various games, bar-b-ques, to name a few)
outside the Sunday service window of time they were specific about in their answer. Several of
these example events have already been hosted at 35938 County Road 25, the property in question.
This new location is large and it seems plausible and highly likely that it will be a common, regularly
utilized location for additional worship meetings, weddings, youth rallies, various ministry
gatherings, social events, and much more.
Answer to Question #16 of the USR states that there are 87 proposed parking spots on the East and
North sides of the property. Essentially, a hand full of steps off of the back patio to our property will
be a parking lot filled every Sunday morning, likely an evening or two each week for mid -week
services, and also random special events throughout the year will be hosted at this location. We
will no longer get to enjoy the quiet Sunday mornings on the deck admiring and basking in any of the
remaining open country view and beauty we have enjoyed for a lifetime. Any dogs we own will need
to remain in the house during these body -count heavy windows of time. Each and every Sunday, all
year tong, the ability to enjoy our quiet yard with privacy, will be gone. I realize to mention dogs
potentially barking at a neighbor or nearby activity is not worth a mention, but I'm not talking about
a neighbor, or a neighbor's dog. I'm referring to 200+ people in our backyard for hours each and
every Sunday and likely more times each week, each month, alt year tong. It seems unfair to remove
a significantly large part of someone's surroundings and lifestyle that has been the same for
decades, at the request of a single entity.
Answer to Question #18 states that there wilt be deciduous trees to shade parking and a kids' play
Y
area. Deciduous trees are indeed beautiful and are a wonderful element in any yard or park, or just
about anywhere. The introduction of deciduous trees per their map will further reduce the already
limited beautiful mountain/foothill view that is present.
The USR mentions a proposed amphitheater. The introduction of large gatherings, amplified music
and prayer and ministry, tights, etc., is not what we ever thought we would be seeing literally in our
own backyard white ever owning this home.
it's almost as if both Mr. Reiff (the home builder) and Calvary Severance Church have blinders on as
to surrounding homes and taking into account that these homes (even if just one or two) have been
in place for decades and that their disregard for beauty, history, heritage has brought
g up
disappointment, hurt, and changed history and memories forever.
We question the request for comments regarding the proposed change of land use via Weld
County's public mailer and if any concerns will be considered and reviewed. Calvary Severance has
been advertising and hosting events at the location since it's purchase in February 2024. What was
the purpose of this costly purchase if the approval for land use hadn't already been granted? Cr
perhaps, the land use approval isn't necessary in the minds of Calvary Severance and they will use
this property as they wish, as they are now. Time wilt tell.
Thank you for considering our letter regarding the change of use for the property located at 35938
County Road 25. We doubt that our comments will reach far, but we felt we needed to voice a few
concerns. I think anyone would feel the same if the same kind of situation were being proposed in
their own backyard.
Please feet free to reach out with any questions.
Respectfully,
Chris and Shelly Swanson
970-420-2420
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EXHIBIT
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Calvary Severance
35938 CR. 25 Eaton, �o
• Established in January
2019.
• Only church in the
community of Severance
• We are a Protestant
Church that holds to the
Bible witc servate
views
Calvary Severance
• We are a church that
serves and invests in our
community
• We desire to be an asset
to our community
• We have strong
relationships with
community members
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• We have gathered at
Severance Middle Schoo
since 2019
• We average 170 each
Sunday
• We set up and tear down
each week
IPS YOUR BREATH IN OUR
LUNGS SO WE POUR
OUT OUR PRAISE
^"�+. YOU ONLY
• This space will allow us to
not be dependent on the
school
• This space will allow us to
serve our community more
• This will be a permanent
home for Calvary
Severance
Hello