Stafford (TX) may halt spread of churches - Mayor says move is economic(churches don't pay taxes)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 10/25/03 | RICHARD STEWART and DANNY PEREZ

[Diddle E. Squat]

STAFFORD -- This city has 55 religious institutions over seven square miles, and local leaders say enough is enough.

"Nobody wants to send a message that we're against religion because we're not," said Leonard Scarcella, who has been mayor for 34 years.

Yet Stafford's City Council is considering a zoning ordinance that would ban construction of new religious buildings or expansion of old ones in about half of the city. Congregations would have to get specific use permits from the council to build or expand in the city's other half.

Scarcella said the problem is that the churches are in danger of taking the place of other establishments. Unlike most cities, Stafford has no property tax. Instead, it relies on sales taxes, franchise taxes and other fees for the city's funds. Churches don't produce sales taxes.

The mayor said 16 of the religious institutions are now in the zone where they would be prohibited from expanding.

At least one minister said all cities, including Stafford, should try to get more churches.

"People need a place to worship," said the Rev. Peter Tuck Soon Leong, pastor of Stafford's Chinese Baptist Church. "They shouldn't restrict us."

The issue of the overabundance of churches, mosques, temples and other institutions came up last summer when some of the city's more than 15,000 residents started saying the city needed to include churches in zoning ordinances. Stafford first started zoning property use in 1997 because residents were concerned that there were too many used car lots in town.

Now, the city averages one religious institution for every eight acres, Scarcella said.

Several that have located in Stafford have done so in just the last few years. And many members of congregations travel from outside of the city to attend services.

"We welcome them here," Scarcella said. "A lot of them visit our restaurants and other businesses while they are here."

The zoning issue has percolated in other cities. For example, a church intent on moving to a South San Jose, Calif., technology park has drawn opposition from city officials who want the area reserved for new businesses.

Stafford's zoning issue has come up in two public hearings already and will probably be considered in at least one more next month. At the earliest, Scarcella said, the ordinance would take effect early next year.

The mayor said similar ordinances have been enacted in other cities and are legal.

But others disagree.

"People should have freedom to set up churches. It is their religious freedom," said Daniel Teng, a worshipper at Houston's Evangelical Formosan Church.

There also has been some opposition, the mayor admits, from other quarters.

"Developers opposed it because they wanted to rent storefront facilities to church groups," Scarcella said. "With the economy the way it is, they were eager to rent their property to whoever they could."

A storefront ministry usually either quickly dies out or grows so much that a larger facility is needed, Scarcella said.

The Rev. James Akindude, pastor of Celestial Church of Christ, Stafford Parish, said, "They should not limit churches because we need more churches than nightclubs and strip joints. The establishment of churches really contributes to moral consciousness of society."

At a Stafford restaurant, Delores Morant, 52, said, "I stand up as an ambassador of God. No matter what part of the city, we need a higher being. We need some direction."

Leong said his own church started as a mission of Houston's Westbury Baptist Church. The congregation bought 11 acres of land in Stafford about seven years ago and built a church there because the property was affordable.

"Now we're too crowded," he said. The church plans to begin construction of a $1.3 million family life center around the first of the year and hopes to build an even larger worship center after that, Leong said.

Worshipers come from a widespread area of Fort Bend and Harris counties. "We have services in Chinese and English, and a lot of our members are Hispanic," he said.

Scarcella said several other groups are embarking on even more ambitious projects. Hindus are spending $100 million on a temple. Not only are the craftsmen from India, but the building stone is as well.

Buddhists have begun construction on a 70-acre complex that is in the restricted area, Scarcella said. "These are really wonderful people."

The mayor said the ordinance is not aimed at any particular institution.

Facilities already built or that have permits to build will be grandfathered in under the proposed ordinance, the mayor said.

Oddly enough, when Scarcella's own church, Holy Family Catholic Church, needed to expand almost 30 years ago, it moved from Stafford to Missouri City. Now the mayor crosses the city line to attend church.

KHOU-Channel 11 contributed information for the origination of this story.

[evolved_rage]

The zoning issue has percolated in other cities. For example, a church intent on moving to a South San Jose, Calif., technology park has drawn opposition from city officials who want the area reserved for new businesses.

With 10 million+ square feet of vacant commercial space, San Jose has a real tight RE market.<\eyes rolling>

[xrp]

That's what it is all about -- how much money government can suck in. This is why "eminent domain" is invoked all over the country now to bulldoze hard-working Americans' houses in favor of Super Wal-Marts that would pay more in taxes.

[T'wit]

This is what comes of not teaching little children who founded America, and why, and with what Constitutional guarantees for all.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"Nobody wants to send a message that we're against religion because we're not," said Leonard Scarcella, who has been mayor for 34 years.

Stafford must be a little like Haiti, complete with a "Mayor for Life."

[Prof Engineer]

ping

[theFIRMbss]

>Unlike most cities, Stafford has no property tax. Instead, it relies on sales taxes, franchise taxes and other fees for the city's funds. Churches don't produce sales taxes.

Money, get away Get a good job with more pay and your O.K. Money it's a gas Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash New car, caviar, four star daydream, Think I'll buy me a football team Money get back I'm all right Jack keep your hands off my stack. Money it's a hit Don't give me that do goody good bullshit I'm in the hi-fidelity first class traveling set And I think I need a Lear jet Money it's a crime Share it fairly but don't take a slice of my pie Money so they say Is the root of all evil today But if you ask for a rise it's no surprise that they're giving none away Away... Away....

[Delphinium]

What is really sick about this , is most Americans, including church people don't even care about private property rights.

They have been brainwashed by all of this planning, and zoning stuff.

Sometimes it takes something like this to wake em up.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

This turns government on its head. Government is now the protector of property for taxation. Didn't we have a revolution to stop this kind of crap?

[mvpel]

Ann Arbor, Michigan has this same problem as the University of Michigan buys up otherwise useful commercial property around the city. They have what's called "PILOT" - payments in lieu of taxes, but that's not quite covering it for the profligate spenders in City Hall.

I wonder if this church is the Christian Community Church on Great Oaks Blvd in San Jose? They've been down there in that business park for at least the last three or four years, I used to work at Alteon just down the street from them.

[deport]

Stafford must be a little like Haiti, complete with a "Mayor for Life."

---

It was incorporated in 1956 so the mayor has been in that postition for a large portion of it..... It seems they were small with prolly around a 1,000 residents when it was incorporated so apparently they didn't provide for zoning requirements at that time....... Yep just us few folks with our chickens and dogs our here....

[Dr Warmoose]

This city has 55 religious institutions over seven square miles, and local leaders say enough is enough

First Translation: Money is our god.

Buddhists have begun construction on a 70-acre complex that is in the restricted area, Scarcella said. "These are really wonderful people."

Real Translation: We hate Christians and we hate their God. Get them the hell out of our neighborhood.

They complain about lack of revenue that they can squeeze out of people, but in truth they think that the idea is wonderful that non-Christians import foreign workers and foreign building material (the anti-American factor) to build a temple that is in direct conflict with this country's culture and Protestant Christian heritage.

An appendix to David Limbaugh's book, perhaps?

[xzins]

The constitution is clear: "....NO LAW respecting an establishment of relgion..."

These are establishments of religion. Therefore, there can be NO LAW one way or another about them.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Yep just us few folks with our chickens and dogs our here....

Quit the funnin.'

I lived in Sugar Land for ten years. Just left last year.

I know you folks in Stafford and Missouri City have had 'lectricity and indoor plumbing for at least that long. ;^)

[null and void]

No, the San Jose Church refered to in the article was a huge Sikh temple in the Evergreen area.

I think they finally approved it.

[null and void]

I'm thinking of relocating to Stafford. What can you tell me about the area? People friendly? Restaurants? (any Thai?) Conservative/Liberal? Trailers/Mansions? etc.

[deport]

http://www.city-data.com/city/Stafford-Texas.html

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/hgs15.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=stafford+texas+population

[deport]

Who me? I'm a hard core card carrying member of the Libertarian Party.

---

From your profile page...... I think you'll be in Ron Paul's district if I'm not mistaken... Someone from the area can verify....

[null and void]

Good links! Thanks!

Looks like a pretty nice place from the first one, stats don't tell the whole story, anyone know the 'feel' of yje town?

[TinkersDam]

Churches often have programs that attract the homeless or the poor or the mentally disturbed; they often attract large amounts of vehicular traffic; they often attract large amounts of pedestrian traffic; they often generate noise from such things as bells, chimes, speakers or special events such as faires. Churches and Charities by their very nature tend to assist those who otherwise would be filtered out of the population by economic pressures. If there is to be any zoning law then churches should certainly be regulated as much as any other activity is regulated.
In other cities, when churches apply for zoning variances, their members usually cram the public meetings to intimidate anyone who attempts to speak out against them.