DECATUR — Planning and Zoning Committee members voted to recommend the Decatur Assembly of God’s Moving Forward in Faith building plan for a new youth facility to the city council.

Steve Clark, of Clark Consulting and Civil Engineering, presented the building plans to the committee on Thursday night.

During the first phase of the building expansion program- to begin this summer - the church plans to build a 25,000 square foot youth facility on the property across the street from the current church building on Highway 102 West.

The church plans to build a fellowship hall with room for a basketball court and activities, an area for kindergarten through sixth grade classrooms and a separate area for seventh through twelfth grade classrooms, Clark said.

“I think their need is the youth program and I think they’re trying to grow their youth program,” he said in explanation of the expansion.

Construction on the first phase will begin as soon as the church gets approval from the city council, Clark said. Some of the preliminary steps are scheduled to begin on June 10, he said.

“I expect we will be turning dirt the day after council,” Clark said.

Don Peterson Construction of Cave Springs will be the general contractor for the project, Clarksaid. The building will have a metal frame, and a partial brick exterior.

“It’s going to be a very attractive modern-style building,” he said.

The second phase of the building project will include an approximately 30,000 square foot sanctuary that will seat about 600 people, Clark said. No date has been set to begin the second phase, he said. The second phase also includes plans for several ball fields and additional parking, he said.

Clark showed the committee plans to channel increased rainwater runoff from the project so it will not create any flooding of surrounding property.

“I’ve been instructed to do my very best to be good neighbors and I think that’s what I’ve achieved,” he said of the plans.

“Everything looks good to me,” said Trip Lapham, Planning and Zoning Committee chairman.

The City Council will vote on the building plan at their next meeting, planned for 6 p.m., June 14.

News, Pages 1 on 06/09/2010