COLORADO SPRINGS — The Church at Briargate initially applied to rezone nearly eight acres for businesses, restaurants and housing.
But it's back to the drawing board.
The lead pastor, Scott Bottoms, said they still intend to sell this property to fund a church expansion. Now, he said they plan to rezone the property from high-density developments like apartments to lower-density businesses, like coffee shops.
This comes after the first public meeting on Sept. 5th, where things got heated.
More than 100 people voiced concerns at a public meeting. Tensions ran high.
"We really didn't have a picture that this would be that big of an issue," said Bottoms. "After everybody kind of calmed down and went home, we had a lot of people call and apologize."
"Does it matter that you have the entire community saying please don't do this," pleaded one neighbor.
Bottoms told me the community's outcry did make a difference.
"They're worried about what's going to go out there so we'll rezone to try to help calm their fears. all the stuff the community doesn't want there, we don't want there either," said Bottoms.
"I'm a little leary of what might develop, but anything is better than what he heard last Thursday," said Ron Peveto, who lives right next door to the church.
Peveto has lived there for 22 years.
"It's just real disheartening to think that would be such a different view," said Peveto looking at Pikes Peak.
"The only reason we're selling our land is to have the money to build, we don't actually want to sell our land," said Bottoms.
Peveto hopes they can find another way to finance.
"Land is one of those things, you can't make more of and to sell off their property to me is very short-sided if they really intend to grow their church," said Peveto."
Bottoms said they're currently talking to their architect to rework the zoning for city approval.
News5 will keep you updated as things progress.
Before the meeting, I sat down with Brian Fasteling. He lived near the church, off of Voyager Parkway, for nearly 15 years.
"Adding all of that commercial or multi-family activity would just be an absolute nightmare," said concerned neighbor Brian Fasteling.
Fasterling's main concerns are traffic and buildings obstructing views.
"By Springcrest [Road] where the school traffic already jammed up or Otero [Avenue], where it gets squeezed down to one lane with the church has a big function and also they should restrict any facilities that get built there to one story only."
I called the Church at Briargate for an interview about its proposal to rezone. I was told the head pastor was unavailable Monday and the architect was out of town.
I emailed questions but didn't get a timely response.
Fasterling told me he doesn't want to lose his secluded and spread-out neighborhood.
"Probably the only neighborhood like this left and people are chomping at the bit to tear this place down and put up apartments and we can not allow that to start," said Fasterling.
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