KALAMAZOO, MI – A lack of trees is preventing a Texas Township church from opening a new chapel.

Texas Township zoning regulations require Pine Island Church to plant evergreen trees and build a fence or wall between the church property at 8882 West Q Ave. and neighboring residential properties to avoid “nuisances.”

Since the church building is located more than 30 meters from neighboring residential properties, the church says there is no obligation to install additional shielding.

The church began construction on a 2,000-square-foot indoor chapel in August 2023 after raising $500,000 for the project. Construction was completed earlier this year.

“At this point, I think they should just give us a special permit,” said Laurie Tupper, a member of First Presbyterian Church who is communicating with the planning commission. “How much of a bother are people worshipping the Lord outside, several hundred feet away?”

Pine Island Church was formerly a stand-alone organization. In 2019, Pine Island Church merged with First Presbyterian Church in downtown Kalamazoo to partner with a larger organization, said Seth Weeldreyer, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church.

Tupper fears that the partnership will raise concerns among neighbors.

“And now all of a sudden, because (Pine Island) has merged with us … We’re the big, bad church from downtown Kalamazoo, and I guess we’re going to do terrible things,” Tupper said.

But this perception is not correct, she said.

The First Presbyterian Church owned the 6-acre property for 30 years, Tupper said, before homes were built next door. The property extends away from the road into a wetland area. Standing on the church property, the view of a house to the east and Pine Island Farms to the west is mostly obscured by trees.

Before plans began to build a new church, several neighbors had asked to buy the church property, Tupper said. The church uses the land as a garden, where it harvests more than 5,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables annually for local charities.

During the pandemic, Pine Island Church held small outdoor services on the property during the warmer months.

During the planning process, the church signed a conservation agreement with its neighbors in exchange for a donation toward construction costs.

The easement prohibits the church from taking certain measures to “counteract” the nature and wildlife in the area, Tupper said. The property across the street remains undeveloped.

Tupper said she had heard a rumor that the new church would become an event center, but such activities would not be compatible with easement requirements.

“Having an event center is as far from the truth as it can be,” Tupper said.

Kelly McIntyre, Texas Township planning director, said the municipality does not issue special permits and the church was informed of the requirements before construction began.

“It’s not the neighbors’ fault, it’s a building code that wasn’t followed,” McIntyre said.

To comply with the ordinance, evergreen trees would have to be planted 5 feet apart and 50 feet from the property line. A combination of a wall or fence with evergreen trees would also work, McIntyre said.

To meet the evergreen tree requirement, Tupper said, about 50 trees would need to be planted. McIntyre said that estimate is probably correct.

Planting 50 trees would cost the church $15,000, Tupper said, and without another fundraiser, they don’t have the money to do it. Tupper also said the ideal time to plant trees is in October.

McIntyre said the church applied for a change in the ordinance in 2022 after its landscape plans failed to meet requirements. The Planning Commission denied the request.

“It’s the same standard that is applied to every property within the municipality,” McIntyre said. “When a residential area borders a non-residential area, we require that review.”

While the church waits for landscaping issues to be resolved, it cannot use the facility. The building was intended for use during the summer months, Tupper said, but now summer is coming to an end.

The church will further discuss the ordinance and its implications at a Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, August 21.

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