United Church development plans approved

A Gallatin church, currently meeting at a local private school, hopes to start construction later this year on its own facility located along Clear Lake Meadows Boulevard.

United Church plans to build a 20,000 square foot facility on 18.95 acres located on the corner of Clear Lake Meadows Boulevard and Nichols Lane. The Gallatin Planning Commission unanimously approved a site plan for the project Monday, July 27.

"It's just going to be a very multipurpose building," United Church Senior Pastor Dan Smith said. "We'll have a sanctuary, a youth area, a kids' area and office space. As far as seating and stuff like that, we're not exactly sure what that will be yet."

The one-story building, which measures 100 foot by 200 foot in size, will be 87 percent masonry with stacked stone around the main entrance facing Clear Lake Meadows Boulevard, according to plans submitted to the Gallatin Planning Department. The property had previously been approved for 30 single-family residential lots as part of Clear Lake Meadows Subdivision Section 8.

Church officials hope to begin construction on the project by the end of the year. Once started, it work is expected to take 10-12 months to complete.

"This is the first part of the development," Smith said. "Eventually what we see happening is this will be a multipurpose building and we'll actually build another adult sanctuary near it. This will be the first phase and the second phase will probably be a little bit more intricate."

Started in January 2012, United Church currently meets at Sumner Academy where it averages 250-270 in attendance for its 10 a.m. Sunday service. The non-denominational church purchased the Clear Lake Meadows Boulevard property, which sits across from the future site of the Gallatin Fire Department's Fire Hall No. 5, in October 2014.

While the church is looking forward to the new facility, Smith said the celebration goes well beyond the brick and mortar building.

"We're very, very thankful to God, but we're not going to get so tied in or tied down by a mortgage payment that we can't do ministry to the community and missions and that sort of thing," Smith said. "We're going to celebrate the fact that we actually have a home of course, but we believe the church is the people and we are honored and humbled that God has opened up the opportunity for us to get this property and be able to build this church."

Reach Josh Cross at 615-575-7115.