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Opponents of megachurch trying to step up pressure

2004-03-24
by Bruce Rommel
Journal Reporter

FEDERAL WAY -- Residents who don't want a megachurch built in their neighborhood hope to step up their campaign by encouraging more people to speak out at public hearings and write to city officials opposing the project.

Those opposing Pastor Casey Treat's plans for a new Christian Faith Center say traffic generated by thousands of church members would mean more traffic congestion on arterials around SeaTac Mall and encourage more drivers to seek shortcuts through residential neighborhoods.

``What about those of us who live in the area? How are we going to be affected?'' said Louise Koetters, one of the organizers of a community meeting Tuesday afternoon at Belmor Park, a retirement community just south of SeaTac Mall.

About 80 area residents attended the meeting. Koetters and others urged them to help circulate petitions to the Federal Way City Council and to attend public hearings.

Christian Faith Center, located on Pacific Highway South in SeaTac for about 20 years, has purchased about 50 acres south of South 336th Street between Pacific Highway South and Interstate 5.

The church proposes a complex that includes a three-level sanctuary, a private K-12 school day-care center, book store, multipurpose meeting rooms and other facilities, plus parking for as many as 1,700 vehicles.

Christian Faith Center in SeaTac currently draws about 3,000, including children, for its two Sunday morning services and about 1,000 for the Wednesday night service, said Ellen Kenison, project manager for the new church planned for Federal Way.

The church purchased the 50 acres for $7.5 million, but isn't yet releasing any cost estimates for the new complex, Kenison said.

The property currently is zoned for business park development. The church is asking it be rezoned for multifamily development, which under city codes would allow construction of a church.

Public hearings on the proposed rezone will be held at City Council meetings in May and June. The City Council could make a decision on the rezone in late June or early July, City Manager David Moseley said Tuesday.

For months, City Council members have been hearing people speak for and against the proposed church complex during the public comment period of council meetings.

``It's obviously a major issue,'' Moseley said.

A final environmental impact statement for the plan was issued early this month. City staff is working with the church on the required development plan, which will set forth traffic improvements and other conditions the church must pay for.

Koetters and others say the environmental review shows some city streets will be strained by additional traffic and they also fear construction would damage wetlands and Hylebos Creek, which flows through the eastern side of the property.

Dave McKenzie told the group the last thing the community needs is more cars on already congested roads.

``And if we needed yet another reason to oppose the project, here it is: There's no hard evidence that this megachurch will help the economy of Federal Way,'' McKenzie said.

As church property, no property taxes will be paid on the land and new buildings, McKenzie said. If it is developed as a business park, however, the ``build out'' would be over a period of time, allowing for completion of traffic improvements as traffic increases, and also would mean more tax revenue for the city, he said.