Title:
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LifePoint Christian Church Special Exception - Consider a Special Exception to allow an existing church to expand in the A-1 (Agriculture) zoning district on 2.44 acres, located on the northwest corner of EE Williamson Rd and Myrtle Lake Hills Rd; (BS2025-10); (Richard Dixon, Applicant); District4 - Lockhart; (Hilary Padin, Planner)
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Agenda Category:
Public Hearing Items
Department/Division:
division
Development Services
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Authorized By:
Joy Giles, Planning Division Manager
Contact/Phone Number:
Hilary Padin/407-665-7331
Background:
The Applicant is requesting approval of a Special Exception to expand an existing civic assembly use known as Lifepoint Christian Church, on 2.44 acres. The existing church structure is approximately 7,000 square feet in size with a seating capacity of 200 seats. The property also includes a 1,952 square-foot single family residence that’s utilized for church office use. The Applicant proposes to construct a new 6,400 square foot building with a seating capacity of 250 seats to utilize for worship service, and the original 7,000 square-foot structure will be utilized for children’s ministry activities during the worship service.
The facility operates primarily on Sundays from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm; the church’s office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The parking requirement for this assembly use is sixty-three (63) parking spaces. The improvements to the site will provide sixty-five (65) parking spaces meeting that requirement under the Seminole County Land Development Code (SCLDC). The site must also meet all regulations under the SCLDC, such as setbacks, buffering and site lighting.
Staff Findings:
In reviewing Special Exception requests, Section 30.3.1.5(a) of the SCLDC requires that the Planning and Zoning Commission hold a public hearing to consider the proposed Special Exception and submit written recommendations to approve with conditions or deny the request to the Board of County Commissioners for official action. After reviewing the Special Exception request and holding a public hearing, the Board of County Commissioners may approve the request if it is determined that the use requested:
(1) Is not detrimental to the character of the area or neighborhood or inconsistent with trends of development in the area:
Staff Analysis:
LifePoint Christian Church is an existing church located on 2.44 acres on EE Williamson Road, a major collector road. The existing trend of development in the area is single-family residential subdivisions surrounding all sides of the church and another church on the southeast side. A community church is customary and in character with the trend of development. Therefore, the proposed use would be in character with the surrounding area and consistent with the trends of development in the area.
(2) Does not have an unduly adverse effect on existing traffic patterns, movements and volumes:
Staff Analysis:
The proposed project increases the seating capacity of the main sanctuary by fifty (50) seats, so the use will only slightly intensify and impose minimal additional traffic volume. Therefore, it would not create unduly adverse effects on traffic patterns, movements and volumes in the surrounding area.
(3) Is consistent with the County’s Comprehensive Plan:
Staff Analysis:
The subject property has a Future Land Use designation of Low Density Residential. Pursuant to the Seminole County Comprehensive Plan, the purpose and intent of this land use designation is to provide appropriate locations for residences at a maximum density of four (4) dwelling units per net buildable acre, with a limited list of public purpose and Special Exception uses. Permitted uses include single-family residences, public schools and Special Exception uses such as group homes, houses of worship, daycares, guest cottages, home occupations, public utilities and publicly owned parks and recreation areas.
Since houses of worship are a Special Exception use under Policy FLU 5.2.1(c) of the Comprehensive Plan and there is an existing church operating on the property, this request is consistent with the Low Density Residential Future Land Use designation.
(4) Will not adversely affect the public interest:
Staff Analysis:
Within the A-1 (Agriculture) district, a civic assembly use is a common use that typically supports the surrounding residential community. The subject established church is on 2.44 acres to meet the needs of the church and would not impede upon the surrounding residents. The increase in seats from the existing sanctuary to the new sanctuary will be minimal and would not impose much, if any, additional strain on traffic in the area. Therefore, the granting of the subject Special Exception will not adversely affect the public interest.
(5) Meets any special exception criteria described in Additional Use Standards;
Section 30.6.17.5 of the Land Development Code states that the following review criteria shall be used to determine the appropriateness of the Special Exception application:
(1) Protects Residential Neighborhoods. Outdoor use areas, including vehicular use areas, must be located and designed to minimize potential negative impacts on residential zoning districts and residential uses in approved PDs, including but not limited to mitigation of light spill-over, glare, noise (from mechanical equipment, recreational facilities, outdoor classrooms, etc.), and any other negative impacts associated with the type of civic assembly use proposed. Assembly uses in residential zones may not apply for a permanent license to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption.
Staff Analysis:
The church’s vehicular traffic will be away from the residential areas and there are no proposed outdoor recreation or classroom areas that could potentially impact the surrounding residences. At site plan, the site will be evaluated for buffering requirements to ensure protection for the surrounding residences.
(2) Traffic. Vehicular ingress, egress, and on-site circulation must be designed and constructed to ensure the least possible impact on neighboring properties and residential streets. Primary ingress and egress must be from the highest service level adjacent street, unless otherwise approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. For community and regional assembly facilities, vehicular access to the facility must be from a collector of four lanes or more, or an arterial street. Parking areas must be designed and located to minimize conflict with pedestrian and bike pathways.
Staff Analysis:
The proposed vehicle parking lots and drive aisles primarily abut the right-of-way areas and provide separations from the surrounding residential subdivisions. The site is located on the northwest corner of EE Williamson Rd, a major collector road, and Myrtle Lake Hills Rd, a local road. The church has always utilized Myrtle Lake Hills Rd for their ingress/egress and is requesting that the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of County Commissioners approve the request to continue to utilize existing access.
(3) Noise Abatement. Civic Assembly uses often involve groups of people arriving and departing at one time (as is common with many assembly uses), outdoor gatherings, or sound amplification. Therefore, issues related to noise from gatherings, events, vehicles, and equipment must be addressed through conditions of approval for a special exception permit. Conditions including but not limited to the location of outdoor use areas on the property, limitations on hours or days of operation, and additional noise abatement strategies may be required.
Staff Analysis:
A condition of approval of no outdoor sound amplification without a permit from the County has been included in the proposed Development Order and is recommended by staff. In addition, buffering will be required on the site to abate any potential noise from impacting the surrounding neighborhoods.
(4) Lighting. Lighting of outdoor areas must be cut-off or fully shielded to reduce glare and prevent light overspill into adjacent properties. Lighting for sports fields and outdoor recreation areas, where operational characteristics prevent the use of cut-off or fully shielded lights, must be turned off no later than 10:00 p.m. or be located such that the lights are not visible from a residential zoning district or residential uses in an approved PD.
Staff Analysis:
The site will not contain a sports field or outdoor recreation areas. Any outdoor lighting of the parking areas will be limited and evaluated at the time of site plan to ensure compliance.
(5) One- and Two-Family Residential Zoning Districts. In order to protect the surrounding residential neighborhood from the encroachment or expansion of civic assembly uses, assembly facilities located in one- or two-family residential zoning districts must meet the following additional standards:
Staff Analysis:
The proposed site is in the A-1 (Agriculture) zoning district, which is not considered a one- or two-family residential zoning district.
(6) Meets the following additional requirements if located in the applicable zone:
If located in A-10, A-5, A-3, or A-1:
(i) Is consistent with the general zoning category of the rural zoning classifications; and
Staff Analysis:
The proposed expansion of the existing church is consistent with the already established use and character of the area, as discussed above.
(ii) Is not highly intensive in nature; and
Staff Analysis:
The proposed expansion is not anticipated to result in a highly intensive development pattern. The scale and intensity of the development remain consistent with the surrounding residential character.
(iii) Is compatible with the concept of low-density rural land use; and
Staff Analysis:
The church has A-1 zoning, however the surrounding properties are in single-family residential zoning districts. The proposed request is compatible with low-density rural land use and meets the intent of the Low Density Residential Future Land Use designation.
(iv) Has access to an adequate level of public services such as sewer, water, police, fire, schools and related services.
Staff Analysis:
The development is currently connected to utility services and has access to public services. It is anticipated that the proposed addition and uses will maintain adequate level of service.
Community Meeting
In compliance with Seminole County Land Development Code Sec. 30.3.5 - Community meeting procedures, the Applicant conducted a community meeting on February 9, 2026. Details of the community meeting have been provided in the agenda package.
Requested Action:
Staff requests the Planning and Zoning Commission, recommend to the Board of County Commissioners approval of the Special Exception and associated Development Order as per the following motion:
Based on Staff’s findings and the testimony and evidence received at the hearing, the Planning and Zoning Commission finds the request meets the identified portions of the Land Development Code and recommends the Board of County Commissioners approve the Special Exception and associated Development Order to allow, with conditions, the use of a community civic assembly church in the A-1 (Agriculture) zoning district on approximately 2.44 acres, located on the northwest corner of EE Williamson Rd and Myrtle Lake Hills Rd.