County Approves Conditional Permit, Plan for New College Hill Sanctuary

The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors voted on Dec. 15 to grant a conditional use permit and to approve the final site plan for a proposed sanctuary for College Hill Presbyterian Church. The action allows the church to proceed with detailed planning for a new building on a parcel located east of the congregation's existing educational facilities, on land zoned A1 agricultural rural.

The permit was necessary because county zoning treats churches as quasi public uses, requiring review when proposed on parcels in agricultural zoning. Under the approved final site plan the sanctuary will sit on a separate parcel from the current educational buildings, a layout the board found consistent with the conditions attached to the permit and with the county zoning ordinance.

College Hill is rebuilding after a devastating fire in August 2022 that destroyed the historic sanctuary. The original sanctuary dated to 1844 and the congregation was founded in 1835. The blaze destroyed original furnishings and stained glass that had been part of the church for generations, making reconstruction a matter of both functional need and historic significance for the community.

Approval from the board does not end the regulatory process. The church must secure any required building permits and obtain subsequent approvals from county officials before reconstruction can begin. County staff will oversee compliance with the approved site plan and any conditions the board placed on the permit as part of routine permitting and inspection processes.

For local residents the decision affects heritage preservation, land use, and neighborhood character. Placing a sanctuary on an A1 parcel under a conditional permit illustrates how quasi public uses are accommodated within rural zoning, and it highlights the role of the board in balancing institutional needs with zoning objectives. The church has indicated it will move forward with reconstruction now that the board has acted, and county oversight will continue to shape how the project proceeds through permitting and construction.