Rezoning the ‘cornerstone’
of school’s planned expansion
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — City Council voted Feb. 7 in favor of a zoning amendment to restore the agricultural farm zone designation to four parcels at the intersection of the Jamieson Road and U.S. Route 1 (Houlton Road), following a request from the Cornerstone Christian Academy and the Presque Isle Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses to rezone parcels located on the Jamieson Road which they are currently developing and/or interested in redeveloping. The change from a business zone to an agricultural farm zone was necessary to allow the school to move forward with its plans to relocate.
“It’s an allowable use to have a church and school in an agricultural zone but not in a business zone,” said City Manager Jim Bennett.
Earlier this year, Troy McCrum, principal of Cornerstone Christian Academy, had spoken to the Council about plans for moving the school to a new location on the Jamieson Road, if the zoning amendment passed.
“We’ve been in business in Presque Isle about five years and are up to 42 students now. As a result, there’s a need to relocate from our current facility. We’ve done an exhaustive search of properties and desire to stay in Presque Isle. But there are limitations. One of the biggest hurdles has been zoning,” McCrum told councilors during Council’s January meeting.
McCrum said school and city officials have worked together to try to find an appropriate location.
“We’ve met from time to time and this property keeps coming back. The benefit to the community will be an increased flow in business, with added families coming to the community. When families move to the Presque Isle area, one thing they say is ‘It’s nice to see there’s a Christian school,’” said McCrum.
McCrum noted one of the conditions of the Jehovah’s Witnesses getting into their new building is the fact the zoning needed to be “cleaned up.”
Jamie Francomano, city planner, explained how the Jehovah’s Witnesses could be located there but a zoning change was required for the faith-based school to move to the same location.
“The church has a special exception and can be allowed in a business/agricultural zone. The school can only be allowed in an agricultural zone,” said Francomano, noting the business zone came about when the drive-in theater was located off the Jamieson Road and that that business has long since closed.
Having outgrown its current location at the Family Christian Center on U.S. Route 1 (Caribou Road), Cornerstone personnel have been busy trying to work out plans for a new location. With Council’s decision to rezone the four parcels south of the city, school officials can now move forward with their plans. Plans for the school, which offers an alternative to public education, are expected to get into full swing in the coming months.
Fundraisers have already begun for the move. Troy Heald, chairman of the promotional and fund-raising committee at the school, posted an update over the weekend on his Facebook page.
‘What an encouraging week for Cornerstone Christian Academy — a $20,000 donation, successful spaghetti dinner ($4,000+) and things moving forward on the building. God is good,” wrote Heald.
For more information or to make a donation, contact the school at 768-6222, visit www.cornerstoneme.com or e-mail theald@cornerstoneme.com.
In other business, Council:
• Adopted a property assessment clean energy (PACE) ordinance;
• Amended Chapter 13 of the city’s litter ordinance for adoption of the proposed illegal dumping ordinance;
• Held the first of two public hearings on creating a new general development zone (GDZ) along the Presque Isle Stream between State and Summer streets;
• Held the first of two public hearings with regard to creating a medical marijuana ordinance;
• Re-passed two ordinances slated to sunset in 2011: Chapter 53, disbursement ordinance; and Chapter 54, all-terrain vehicle ordinance;
• Approved a special amusement permit for Pienana, Inc., d/b/a Irish Setter Pub, 710 Main St.;
• Made various appointments to city boards and committees;
• Approved consent agenda, including: minutes for Jan. 3 and Jan. 10 City Council meetings; 2010 warrants 51-53, totaling $487,359.57; and 2011 warrants 1-20, totaling $5,999,382.87;
• Authorized departmental over-expenditures for 2010 — with the net over-expenditure of $3,835.47 be authorized to be taken from the undesignated fund balance for the year ending Dec. 31, 2010;
• Discussed the next steps for the proposed community center project;
• Reviewed the Financial Resolve Policy; and
• Extended the city manager’s contract by a year, through February 2014, at a salary of $95,000 per year.
City Council will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting on March 7 a 6 p.m. at City Hall. For more information, contact 760-2785 or visit presqueisle.govoffice2.com.
