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Church expansion approved after debate
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Freedom of religion and land zoning don’t usually go hand-in-hand.
But that was the case Tuesday, when Collier County commissioners — acting as the Board of Zoning Appeals — voted to accept a special magistrate’s ruling concerning the Golden Gate Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses proposed church expansion plans.
The 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Jim Coletta dissenting, came after a nearly 40-minute-long discussion and a break from the meeting for the church to debate whether or not to accept a proposal by Coletta to limit night-time worship services to four nights a week.
The special magistrate’s ruling recommended that the board approve the church’s revised site development plan to expand.
“We seriously considered the motion,” said James Fox, an attorney at Roetzel and Andress, a law firm on Park Shore Drive in Naples, who represented the church during the meeting.
Fox added that after an extensive discussion the congregation ultimately had to call the church’s headquarters in New York.
“The decision was that the church cannot agree to when they can worship,” said Fox.
During the meeting, Commissioner Frank Halas said he too had reservations about the limit.
“My concern is, ‘What about funerals, weddings and any other type of ceremonial activities,’” said Halas, before the vote. “I have a problem with limiting worshiping to four days a week or whatever.”
Commission Chairman Tom Henning agreed, and alluded to the Founding Fathers’ quest for religious freedom.
“I have fear when government says where you have to worship and how long you have to worship,” said Henning.
Coletta disagreed.
“This has nothing to do with the rights of religion,” said Coletta. “It has to do with the rights of people and the personal enjoyment of their property.”
The expansion of the church, 3480 Golden Gate Boulevard SW, was originally rejected in June and has faced opposition from neighborhood residents who feared that expanding the church would change the character of their neighborhood.
The congregation wants to build a second church, a 4,400-square-foot building, including an additional parking area, a driveway connection, pedestrian connections throughout the property and a modified water management area.
As a result of that decision, the church filed an application for relief under the Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act in July with Collier County officials in an effort to avoid a lawsuit.
A special master, a quasi-judicial officer who hears certain disputes and rules, was selected to mediate the case in lieu of going to court. In Collier, the special master mainly addresses code enforcement cases.
In addition to the county and the congregation, neighboring property owners also participated in the special magistrate hearings.
During the process, the church tweaked its site development plan by removing a proposed berm — mound or wall of earth and or sand — relocating the parking area to the side of the site nearest Max Hasse Community Park, placing a wall around the parking lot and church building, along with buffering and preserving areas between the wall and the property line.
In his March 15 report, Special Magistrate Ted Brousseau suggested that the county approve the conditional use permit on the amended site plan for the church’s expansion project.
County staff, however, recommended that the board reject the special magistrate’s suggestions.
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When Jehovah's Witnesses build Kingdom Halls
Many of theses Kingdom Hall builds are Watchtower corporation "make work" projects that give the appearance of growth to a religion in decline.
The wealthy Watchtower real estate holding company gets free labor provided by the Jehovah's Witnesses followers to donate more tax free property to their corporation.
Jehovah's Witnesses have largest turnover of recruits,have one of the highest attrition rates of all denominations.
Reports from TIME Magazine-""An even more extreme example of what might be called "masked churn" is the relatively tiny Jehovah's Witnesses, with a turnover rate of about two-thirds.
That means that two-thirds were raised Jehovah's Witnesses no longer are — yet the group attracts roughly the same number of converts. Notes Lugo, "No wonder they have to keep on knocking on doors
Half of all the Watchtower related news now on Jehovah's Witnesses is either obituaries or Kingdom Hall construction.
The old folks who gave everything to the WBTS are dying off left and right cause no new system ever came (1975)
The Watchtower keeps on wheeling and dealing big money real estate.
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Danny Haszard Golden Gate resident and Jehovah's Witness 1970-78 www.freeminds.org
#1 Posted by DannyHaszard on April 25, 2008 at 12:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
“This has nothing to do with the rights of religion,” said Coletta. “It has to do with the rights of people and the personal enjoyment of their property.”
HA HA HA HA good one Jim!
Since when do you care about others?
(Is this election year? Oh, yes it is!)
#2 Posted by Watchdog on April 25, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fellow readers, Danny Haszard is a bitter person who sets up e-mail alerts to find out whenever there is news about Jehovah's Witnesses on any website. Once an article like this appears he swoops in and tries to spread his propaganda. I suggest any logical thinking person acquire the Time magazine in question and read the article in its context. Even the American Council of churches admitted recently that Jehovah's Witnesses are one of the fastest growing religious groups in the US. In fact, in many countries, Jehovah's Witnesses continue to purchase and renovate buildings, arenas etc. even converting former churches into Kingdom Halls. This in spite of opposition from hatemongers like Danny Haszard.
But don't take my word for it, when the JWs actually start to build on the property, walk over and view their unity, love and professionalism for yourself.
#3 Posted by Zurdazo on April 25, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The above comment by "zurdazo" is a personal attack plain and simple.
Jehovah's Witnesses receive opposition because of their intrusive tactics and oppressive practices.
Google keyword (Jehovah Witness),google don't lie it will open your eye.
#4 Posted by DannyHaszard on April 25, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why will courts not accept Google research as evidence? I guess for the same reason many universities don't accept papers based on solely Internet research. Maybe the readers should Google 'DannyHaszard', that would certainly add some credibility to my comments posted above.
It makes me wonder if you do anything but obsess about Jehovah's Witnesses. Where do you get the time and resources to vent your anger against Jehovah's Witnesses? Do you do anything else, are you paying for everything out of your own pocket? What's your motivation? I've been seeing your posts for years and in spite of your efforts Jehovah's Witnesses continue to grow worldwide. But don't just take my word for it, ask the American Council of churches, or the Catholic Church's head office in the US.
#5 Posted by Zurdazo on April 25, 2008 at 11:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nobody posting here "hates" Jehovah's Witnesses.You want your free speech to go door to door with your beliefs and same with dissidents with years of experience.
What's wrong with that?
#6 Posted by DannyHaszard on April 26, 2008 at 1:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Scientologist and Jehovah Witness have similiar tactics.
Hopefully the Jehovahs Watchtower church here, won't gobble up any more real estate like Scientology has done to Clearwater.
#7 Posted by GateNative on April 26, 2008 at 4:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you would like more REAL and accurate info about Jehovah's Witnesses on the web be sure to check out the official web site at http://www.Watchtower.org
#8 Posted by findthetruthonline on April 30, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
More have died from their Watchtower spiritual and medical quackery than Jim Jones and David Koresh cults combined!
Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs:
A) They are at your door to recruit you for enslavement to their watchtower corporation,they will say that "we are just here to share a message from the Bible" this is deception right off.
B) Their 'message' is a false Gospel that Jesus had his second coming in 1914.The problem with this is it's not just a cute fairy tale,Jesus warned of the false prophets who would claim "..look he is here in the wilderness,or see here he is at the temple..."
C) Their anti-blood transfusion ban has killed hundreds if not thousands
D) once they recruit you they will "love bomb" you in cult fashion to also recruit your family & friends or cut them off. There are many more dangers,Jehovah's Witnesses got a bad rap for good and valid reasons.
99% of the world has rejected the teachings of the Watchtower Jehovah’s Witnesses, the darker truth is they are a destructive and oppressive organization.
Mind control is a terrible thing.
--
Danny Haszard Jehovah's Witness X 33 years http://www.freeminds.org
http://jehovahwitness.vox.com/
#9 Posted by DannyHaszard on April 30, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If a Jehovah's Witness cultist ever did meet God he'd probably try to teach him the "truth" and convert Him
#10 Posted by GateNative on June 1, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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