March 31, 2009 Church gets green light for 199-foot cross  By Drew Pierson dpierson@gannett.com In about four to six months, one of the tallest crosses in the nation will sprout along U.S. Highway 80. The Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission's Board of Adjustment agreed Monday to allow Central Assembly of God, a church just east of the Bossier City limits, to build the 199-foot cross, subject of much debate in Bossier in recent months. "We're going to have a beautiful cross," the Rev. Andy Harris said after the meeting Monday. "We'll let everyone know there are people of faith in this community." If built, the cross would be on the short list of one of the tallest crosses in the nation. The church asked to build it last September, but it was informed by the commission its land was zoned only for structures no taller than 45 feet, and the request was denied. Harris and church followers launched an outreach campaign. "To me, there was never any controversy over the cross," Barry Butler, the Bossier police juror whose district encompasses the church, said last week. "It's just a matter that we created an ordinance that was too inflexible. ..." In February, on a motion from Butler the Police Jury voted to change the ordinance to make it easier for exceptions to the law. "They did a heck of a job preparing," said Tim Wheelahan, a member of the Board of Adjustment. "They were denied ... and they went the distance." Board members Wheelan, Dean Clark Jr., Allen Self and Dan McGrath Sr. voted Monday for the cross to be built. Board members Renee Nance and Joe Davis were absent. Monday's meeting was packed with church supporters, but there were those opposed. "It's an intrusion because of its size," said Adelaide Brennan, a Bossier City resident who has spoken against the cross at public meetings. "If it was built to 45 feet tall, which was its original limitation, I would have no objection to them; that'd be their business." Harris said the church would be able to build the estimated $700,000 cross project in less than half a year. Sam Marsigilia, director of the commission, said he was happy the situation had been resolved. "We're glad to be done. ...we're happy for the church."

March 31, 2009

Church gets green light for 199-foot cross

By Drew Pierson
dpierson@gannett.com

In about four to six months, one of the tallest crosses in the nation will sprout along U.S. Highway 80.

The Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission's Board of Adjustment agreed Monday to allow Central Assembly of God, a church just east of the Bossier City limits, to build the 199-foot cross, subject of much debate in Bossier in recent months.

"We're going to have a beautiful cross," the Rev. Andy Harris said after the meeting Monday. "We'll let everyone know there are people of faith in this community."

If built, the cross would be on the short list of one of the tallest crosses in the nation. The church asked to build it last September, but it was informed by the commission its land was zoned only for structures no taller than 45 feet, and the request was denied.

Harris and church followers launched an outreach campaign.

"To me, there was never any controversy over the cross," Barry Butler, the Bossier police juror whose district encompasses the church, said last week. "It's just a matter that we created an ordinance that was too inflexible. ..."

In February, on a motion from Butler the Police Jury voted to change the ordinance to make it easier for exceptions to the law.

"They did a heck of a job preparing," said Tim Wheelahan, a member of the Board of Adjustment. "They were denied ... and they went the distance."

Board members Wheelan, Dean Clark Jr., Allen Self and Dan McGrath Sr. voted Monday for the cross to be built. Board members Renee Nance and Joe Davis were absent.

Monday's meeting was packed with church supporters, but there were those opposed.

"It's an intrusion because of its size," said Adelaide Brennan, a Bossier City resident who has spoken against the cross at public meetings. "If it was built to 45 feet tall, which was its original limitation, I would have no objection to them; that'd be their business."

Harris said the church would be able to build the estimated $700,000 cross project in less than half a year.

Sam Marsigilia, director of the commission, said he was happy the situation had been resolved. "We're glad to be done. ...we're happy for the church."