Dec. 6, 1991

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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.


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