Two churches’ plans for new buildings for their congregations in Oak Forest have been rejected by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
About 40 residents attended the meeting Wednesday to express opposition to plans for the churches, citing parking and traffic concerns, potential drainage problems and the lack of tax income.
Rev. A.A. Talabi’s 150-member Chicago Healing Evangelical Church in Country Club Hills requested a zoning change to allow a church on land now zoned for manufacturing at 167th Street and Kilpatrick Avenue. The church’s congregation is primarily African and African-American.
“I think this is a good neighborhood where you can bring up children and give them a sense of value,” said Talabi, adding that the site off Interstate Highway 57 was convenient for his parishioners who live in the south suburbs.
But commissioners voted 3-3 on the proposal, with Chairman Dave Newquist breaking the tie by voting to recommend denial. The City Council will vote on the rezoning May 9.
Commissioners voted 5-1 to recommend that the council deny rezoning for the Ebenezer Pentecostal Church of God, whose congregation meets in the basement of Oak Forest High School. The church wanted to build at 15958 S. Cicero Ave., which currently is the site of a school.
Mayor Patrick Gordon attended the hearing to voice his opposition to the proposal, saying that the property should be used for commercial development. The land is in an area that the city is considering for a tax increment financing district.
“I look at that corner as the front doorstep to Oak Forest,” he said. “We would lose not only in terms of sales tax but also property tax.”
But John Vlasis of Oak Lawn, the property’s real estate agent, said he thinks the opposition is based more on the fact that the parishioners are largely of East Indian descent.
“It’s always fine that your church doesn’t have to pay taxes, because it’s your place of worship. But now we’re looking at someone else’s place of worship, and they have the right to worship,” he said.
“This church group is a bunch of responsible people. I think they’d be an asset to the community.”
Gordon, who was angered by Vlasis’ comments, said he had explained to church members that his opposition was based on the specific site and that he would welcome the church at another, more appropriate, location.
Neighbors said the church would cause an increase in traffic, which could be unsafe.
The City Council is to consider the Pentecostal church’s application May 9 also, but church officials said they are unsure whether they will go through with it.
