Christian Community Center Put On Back Burner for Now [AUDIO]

WAITE PARK -- Hopes of turning a vacant church into a community center are put on hold for now.

During last weeks Waite Park City Council meeting, the council voted to deny the conditional use permit request and parking variance.

Mayor Rick Miller says uncertainty as to what the building would be used for let the council to deny the request.

Brian Alsaker and Jeremy Snoberger bought the abandoned church, at 523 2nd Street North, about a year ago.

They want to turn the former church into a gathering space for youth, marriage, and adult programs, while following the message of the Christian faith.

Miller says the applicants were told by the Planning Commission they could revise their request, but that never happened.

Alsaker and Snoberger met with the Planning Commission back in September and were told they could apply for an interim use permit. The permit would allow the city to limit the types of activities the church could be used for.

Miller says he still sees the council accepting the applicants request, if they follow the recommendations suggested by the Planning Commission.

Alsaker and Snoberger were not at the meeting.