Church seeks permit for food ministry

A Cape Girardeau church is asking for a special permit to sell groceries, four years after starting the enterprise.

The Rev. Zack Strong of Christ Church of the Heartland said he'll appear at tonight's planning and zoning commission meeting to ask for a permit to function as an Angel Food Ministries outlet.

"Angel Food Ministries is not a commercial venture at all, on our end," Strong said. "It's just a ministry for the church."

Angel Food Ministries is a Georgia-based not-for-profit that ships groceries to churches around the country each month. The churches sell the food at a reduced cost to anyone, though low-income people are the targets. A medium-sized box of groceries that would feed a family of four for a week costs $25.

Strong said his church has sold the groceries for four years. The food is delivered once a month via semitrailer to the church at 720 Bertling St.

According to city attorney Eric Cunningham, the church has entered the retail grocery business.

"It is a commercial activity, and a commercial activity is not supposed to take place in a residential zone," he said.

The only way the church can continue the business is with the approval of the city council. The process starts with the planning and zoning commission's review.

Strong said the special-use request is the result of a complaint last month from one of his neighbors. Relations between the pastor and the surrounding community have deteriorated since the church started building an extensive addition last year. Neighbors complained of noise and drainage problems.

Relations worsened when Strong applied for a special-use permit to open a day care for as many as 60 children. The church withdrew the permit request in July. In August, Strong said he regretted not talking with neighbors about his plans early on. At that time, he said he hoped to host a gathering that would include a church tour and explanation of his plans. The open house never happened, he said.

This week, Strong held a meeting at the church to explain the food ministry. He said he expected as many as 100 people, but only one man showed up.

"I really don't know how to read it, if people got their minds made up or just don't know," Strong said.

He may get a better idea at tonight's public hearing. Eight of his immediate neighbors on Scott's Lane, Bertling Street and Sylvan Lane were notified of the public hearing and will have the opportunity to voice their opinions, as will any other members of the public.

Another public hearing, on the draft of the city's comprehensive plan, will draw a different special-interest group. Bicyclists are planning to ask the board to clarify some of the plan's language.

Cape Girardeau's planning and zoning commission meets at 7 p.m. today at city hall, 401 Independence St.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127