Mill Church seeks downtown house of worship
The Edgar Village Board last week Wednesday tabled action on a request by The Mill Church, Edgar, to change its zoning code to allow church construction in a commercial zone.
The church, according to pastor Nick Bancuk, would like to build a new house of worship on a one and onehalf acre parcel located at the intersection of Redwood Street and Third Ave.
Owner of the parcel is Paul Szmanda, who operates a dental office in Edgar.
Bancuk said the church has sufficient cash to make a down payment on the property and would like to move forward quickly.
He said the new church would put up a building that has the entire Edgar community in mind. “We want to put up a building that benefits the community,” Bancuk said, “We want a building that looks nice, that we’re proud of and that the village is proud of.”
The pastor said The Mill Church would hold services on Wednesdays and Sundays and would be willing to make the building available either to businesses on the other days or to provide a place for school age children or, especially, foster care children, to gather.
Bancuk clarified that the church would not run a daycare center in the church building. He said he could see a coffee shop operated in the structure.
“We love for people to be in the building,” he said. “Our goal is to make this a multi-purpose building.”
During a public hearing, Scott Lemmer, a real estate agent working with the village, questioned changing the village’s zoning code to accommodate a church and said he’d prefer to see the village grant a one-time conditional use permit.
Administrator Lopez said the village’s attorney has recommended against that option due to changes in state law regarding discrimination.
Bancuk said any changes to the village’s zoning code would have a limited impact. Not many churches will likely come to Edgar due to a change in zoning.
“You won’t have a run on churches in the village,” he said. “Maybe one in 50 years.”
Trustee Jon Streit said it would be a “big decision” for the village to make the zoning change and recommended the village board slow down any decision.
Village president Terry Lepak asked Bancuk what the church would do should it buy the property but not build a church. The pastor said the church always had the option of selling the lot.
