September 29, 2008 Bossier church to ask for 200-foot cross  Central Assembly of God goes before planning commission today  By Drew Pierson dpierson@gannett.com A Bossier Parish church will ask permission today to build a 200-foot-tall cross on its property, but staff say they are not recommending the church be allowed to proceed. "We're looking at this from a legal standpoint," said Sam Marsiglia, director of the Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission. "There's nothing against a cross or church like this. What we are concerned with are the ramifications when there's no true hardship or need for it." The church, Central Assembly of God at 700 U.S. Highway 80, will go before the planning commission's Board of Adjustment at 2 p.m. in City Council chambers Monday. Marsiglia and the planning commission staff can make recommendations, but the five voting members on the board will make the ultimate decision. "This has been something in our pastor's (the Rev. Andy Harris) heart for the past couple of years, and the reason for it is that it will be a testimony of our Christian faith," said Carlton Gilmer, executive pastor of Central Assembly. "This will be the largest cross in this part of the world. It's something we're really very, very enthusiastic about." If erected, the cross would be nearly as tall as a football field. The church has raised about $100,000 of the roughly $700,000 needed to build the cross, and plans to sell engraved pavers in a nearby memorial garden to help raise the money. Right now the area in question is zoned for no structure taller than 45 feet, unless the property owner can show that limitation creates some sort of hardship, or that there is a strong need for a structure taller than the maximum height. If the board follows staff's recommendation, the church's only recourse would be to take the matter to court. Gilmer said the church was prepared to do so. "If they (the board) does come back and say they're not going to do it, then absolutely," Gilmer said. Assembly of God first came to the planning commission about a year ago, Marsiglia said. They had originally asked if the church could build the cross as a cell phone tower, which Marsiglia said he would be in favor of, but apparently could not find an interested provider. "We want everyone else to feel it (the cross) belongs to them," Gilmer said. "It's not a Central Assembly cross. It's for the people of the Ark-La-Tex."

September 29, 2008

Bossier church to ask for 200-foot cross

Central Assembly of God goes before planning commission today

By Drew Pierson
dpierson@gannett.com

A Bossier Parish church will ask permission today to build a 200-foot-tall cross on its property, but staff say they are not recommending the church be allowed to proceed.

"We're looking at this from a legal standpoint," said Sam Marsiglia, director of the Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission. "There's nothing against a cross or church like this. What we are concerned with are the ramifications when there's no true hardship or need for it."

The church, Central Assembly of God at 700 U.S. Highway 80, will go before the planning commission's Board of Adjustment at 2 p.m. in City Council chambers Monday. Marsiglia and the planning commission staff can make recommendations, but the five voting members on the board will make the ultimate decision.

"This has been something in our pastor's (the Rev. Andy Harris) heart for the past couple of years, and the reason for it is that it will be a testimony of our Christian faith," said Carlton Gilmer, executive pastor of Central Assembly. "This will be the largest cross in this part of the world. It's something we're really very, very enthusiastic about."

If erected, the cross would be nearly as tall as a football field. The church has raised about $100,000 of the roughly $700,000 needed to build the cross, and plans to sell engraved pavers in a nearby memorial garden to help raise the money.

Right now the area in question is zoned for no structure taller than 45 feet, unless the property owner can show that limitation creates some sort of hardship, or that there is a strong need for a structure taller than the maximum height.

If the board follows staff's recommendation, the church's only recourse would be to take the matter to court. Gilmer said the church was prepared to do so.

"If they (the board) does come back and say they're not going to do it, then absolutely," Gilmer said.

Assembly of God first came to the planning commission about a year ago, Marsiglia said. They had originally asked if the church could build the cross as a cell phone tower, which Marsiglia said he would be in favor of, but apparently could not find an interested provider.

"We want everyone else to feel it (the cross) belongs to them," Gilmer said. "It's not a Central Assembly cross. It's for the people of the Ark-La-Tex."