October 29, 2008 Zoning administrators: new ordinance would allow 199-foot cross  By Drew Pierson dpierson@gannett.com Weeks after a Bossier Parish church was denied permission to build a 199-foot cross, planning and zoning officials have drafted a law that would allow the church to do so. The proposal will be presented to the public in November, said Sam Marsigilia, director of the Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission. After that, there will be a several monthslong public hearing process before — or if — the law would be adopted. "I think they should let it go through," said Barry Butler, a Bossier police juror. "It's on private property — so long as it's not an eyesore. I have a hard time restricting expression of religion." The church, Central Assembly of God on U.S. Highway 80 near Haughton, is in Butler's district. Church leaders came to the Police Jury several weeks ago and asked for help finding a way to build the cross. Central Assembly's property is zoned for structures no taller than 45 feet. A special "variance" panel, which has the power to say yay or nay to zoning exceptions like the church's request, voted 4-1 against the cross Sept. 30. Other than take the decision to court, Central Assembly leaders had no choice but to ask for the law to be changed. Butler was chosen to lead a committee to investigate the pros and cons of such a change because the church is in his district. One of the concerns previously mentioned by police jurors was that such a law would allow any tall structure to suddenly go up in the parish. This proposal, Marsiglia said, would be for all nonsign structures, meaning it could be applied to other tall, religious symbols — or other structures. Central Assembly of God pastor Andy Harris had not immediately returned a phone call as of press time. Butler said he had not seen the proposal, so he did not want to comment on it specifically; however, he said he supports the church's efforts. "For some people, expressing religion may ... be a small expression," Butler said. "For some people, it may be a very large expression. How big or how small the expression, I'd hate for government to step in and say, 'Sorry, that's too big; that's too big small.'"

October 29, 2008

Zoning administrators: new ordinance would allow 199-foot cross

By Drew Pierson
dpierson@gannett.com

Weeks after a Bossier Parish church was denied permission to build a 199-foot cross, planning and zoning officials have drafted a law that would allow the church to do so.

The proposal will be presented to the public in November, said Sam Marsigilia, director of the Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission. After that, there will be a several monthslong public hearing process before — or if — the law would be adopted.

"I think they should let it go through," said Barry Butler, a Bossier police juror. "It's on private property — so long as it's not an eyesore. I have a hard time restricting expression of religion."

The church, Central Assembly of God on U.S. Highway 80 near Haughton, is in Butler's district. Church leaders came to the Police Jury several weeks ago and asked for help finding a way to build the cross.

Central Assembly's property is zoned for structures no taller than 45 feet.

A special "variance" panel, which has the power to say yay or nay to zoning exceptions like the church's request, voted 4-1 against the cross Sept. 30.

Other than take the decision to court, Central Assembly leaders had no choice but to ask for the law to be changed. Butler was chosen to lead a committee to investigate the pros and cons of such a change because the church is in his district.

One of the concerns previously mentioned by police jurors was that such a law would allow any tall structure to suddenly go up in the parish. This proposal, Marsiglia said, would be for all nonsign structures, meaning it could be applied to other tall, religious symbols — or other structures.

Central Assembly of God pastor Andy Harris had not immediately returned a phone call as of press time.

Butler said he had not seen the proposal, so he did not want to comment on it specifically; however, he said he supports the church's efforts.

"For some people, expressing religion may ... be a small expression," Butler said. "For some people, it may be a very large expression. How big or how small the expression, I'd hate for government to step in and say, 'Sorry, that's too big; that's too big small.'"