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A'
ATHOLIC
or;
News & Herald
80'
Volume
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
The Herald Angel.
Hark,
Zoning Board Gives St.
Gabriel By
1
Number
14
December
•
6,
1991
Go Ahead For
Community Center
CAROL HAZARD Associate Editor
CHARLOTTE
—St. Gabriel Church
can build a community center
that neigh-
bors have tried to block for the past year and
Zoning Board of Adjustment decided last week. The $4 million center, on 13 acres of church property on Providence Road, will expand enrollment at the church school from 385 to 535 elementary students. It is scheduled to open in August 1992. half, the Charlotte
Despite the approval, plans are likely to
m Photo by
JOANN KEANE
Ground For By JOANN
New Group Homes
KEANE
Associate Editor
BELMONT — Nearly
20 years ago,
Holy Angels broke ground for
main
its
current
some of those who
24,
ground was once again unearthed.
was for three group homes
wit-
—
This Inter-
mediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded.
Holy
More than 100 turned out for the
Moody tion
homes allow
says these
of "service for some children
be aging out of the existing center." Residents age out at age
1
8.
"These adolescents
have lived here most of their
lives."
group homes.
ceremony. holding hands with the past
Mike and Peggy Jones' daughter, Kristen, has been a Holy Angels resident for
Nancy Nance, community relations director for Holy Angels Incorporated. Former State Sen. Marshall Rauch and Maria Morrow, long-time Holy Angels
16 years, coming to the
"It's like
Sister
resident^brwhomtheMariaMorrow School is
named, were on hand to witness the future
one and a
facility at the
"We
half.
have seen
age of
lots
of
changes (over the years) in the facility .These ..
shovels and these three really
new homes
Rauch recalled the day 35 years ago, when Sister Patrice came to him with Maria Morrow in her arms and said to him, "I'm
an answer to a prayer," said Peggy
Jones.
going to build, and you're going to help
me
pay for it" He became a member of the first
as they
near the property, fears
become
adults."
Other residential
programs, she says are few, and usually
have waiting
lists.
"So many people have worked so hard, part
This
money,
will delay the
opening of the school." Construction
behind schedule.
have
to
already three weeks
is
As
it
is,
the parish will
"work awfully hard"
to catch up,
says Father Sheridan.
Neighbors voiced their concerns about noise and closeness of the building with
is
must be neutral
that the state
Gabriel's proposes to
fering with
it.
construct
elementary school on a sub-
its
St.
of land than the
stantially smaller plot
state
would require for the construction for a comparable public elementary school. The failure of the zoning code to mandate the acreage requirements requires state
state
neutrality
toward religion."
In responding to the zoning code charge,
of the Diocese of Charlotte and the building
Father Sheridan said, "The city attorney and
committee. The church responded by chang-
the
ing the configuration of the building and
with Mr. Daly's interpretation."
away from
moving
it
property
line.
we possibly could we have listened this.
We
...
but they do not believe
to them," says Father
shame
would have
it
has occurred like
liked to
won unanimous
zoning codes and
First
Amend-
the city
approval
thermore, a restraining order filed Oct. 21
was
lifted
Nov.
1
,
giving the church the go-
ahead to grade the property. Regarding constitutional charges, Fa-
"Now,
freedom of religion under a
state
law
We
...
he's attacking are operating
that has regulations for
public and non-public school systems. are a religious non-public school.
We Love A Parade.
last
the Charlotte zoning board. Fur-
ther Sheridan said,
association claims the project vio-
lates state
week by
have had a
better relationship."
totally disagree
The plan has been backed by attorney and
"We believe we have done everything
Sheridan. "It's a
Board of Adjustment
the neighborhood
We
The N.C.
Department of Public Instruction has looked at
our plans, made suggestions and given
The
center will have 19 classrooms, a
couple of laboratories, a cafeteria and a
for
gymnasiusm.
It
'
"It
be used for school
will also
and religious education
offices.
'We are building a center that will meet
not only our school needs but also the needs
of all the people in our parish and others in the
anywhere
community," says Father Sheridan. The project is a key element in the
reorganization of Charlotte area Catholic
July.
were people...saying we home for these people. Some
of those people are here today death that at long
last,
the
The reorganization, which will result in a regional school system at the
and thrilled to
dream
is
programs
it...
coming
struction of
be
in
one of
and adolescents
severe mental retardation, are
two new elementary schools
like that at St. Gabriel
homes being con-
structed will serve children
of the
and expansion of facilities at some of the existing schools.Some of the expansion -
in the entire Southeast..."
of the group
who have
to
start
1992-93 school year, also involves con-
these people I'd like to say your
going to be worth
Two
reli-
basic constitutional principle ap-
schools announced by Bishop Donoghue in
need a group
is
The
toward religion, neither favoring it nor inter-
Donoghue
Forrest said, "there
the best
The constituAmendment,
Constitution:
plicable here
fighting.
"For a number years befored I retired,"
wait
quiet.
— "The
is
on
are going to keep
around."
;
expanding, and
maintaining peace
We
chairman of the Holy
being one of the best programs
;
in
which prohibits the establishment of
was exciting for me to be here 20 years ago when we broke ground for this building. We've come a long way. And now we moved into
To
in
gion.
1992.
late spring,
Angels board of directors, said,
true.
will consider the
It
of St. Gabriel's
...
facilities is
The homes should be ready Forrest,
Use Permit
their approval."
Construction on the three
Rose
potential disruptions. interests
Special
in reconciling these
a disruptive but a constructive influence
scheduled to begin within the next few
occupancy by
The
Board has expertise
of St. Gabriel. "I would say the church is not
of it," said Rauch.
weeks.
recognizes
being disruptive to thecommunities in which they are located.'
tional issue involves the First
Holy Angels board of directors. and done so much...it's just a privilege to be
The code
churches have the potential for
and
costing us an awful lot of time and
resi-
interpreted to require that a special use
"He (Mr. Daly) says we're a disruptive presence," says Father Ed Sheridan, pastor
The SeeAngels, Page 6
Greentree
property values.
are
"There are few alternatives for children
of the facility they love.
live
Father Sheridan, Bishop John F.
and walking ahead to the future," said Mercy
— "Zoning Code: The
dents believe that the zoning code should be
of the neighborhood
They
now can move from the main center into the
states the following:
the 79,000-square-foot building will lower
continua-
who will
He
that large
who
Zoning Code and
the United States Constitution," writes Daly.
George Daly, who represents Brookridge Lane resident Gary Cox on behalf of the Greentree Neighborhood Association. The association, which is made up of
and we are most concerned it
Holy Angels Executive Director Regina
On Nov.
it
at
Angels.
center.
nessed the first ground breaking returned as
time
medically fragile and currently live
"This case presents important issues of interpretation of the City
permit be obtained.
residents
Holy Angels Builds For Future, Breaks
behalf of the neighborhood association.
be delayed. The decision will be appealed to superior court, says attorney
:
ment rights. The following written statement printed in its entirety was submitted by Daly on
Members of St. James Church
in
Concord man
struction of a building
-
will involve con-
which
will serve as a
the parish float in the city's annual holiday parade.
Photo by
CARL ROSS
parish center as well as provide additional
classroom space.