FELLSMERE — A church wanting to offer services in what was supposed to be a house on N. Cypress Street in Fellsmere has to answer several questions before the Fellsmere City Council will vote to approve the conditional use in a residential area.
Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal M.I., led by Pastor Pedro Conde, wants to offer services throughout the week for its nearly 60 members. It also wants the ability to hold services outside when weather permits.
After nearly an hour of discussion, the council unanimously agreed to postpone a decision until the Sept. 6 meeting to give the church and city staff enough time to hammer out more of the details.
One such detail pertains to outdoor services.
“I’m concerned with the noise,” said neighbor Arthur Bell, who told the council that the church has already held one outdoor service at the site with speakers on a Sunday morning.
The noise, he said, disturbed his family.
“I don’t blame you,” Councilman Joel Tyson said, responding to Bell’s concern.
“Peace and quiet on a Sunday morning” is all he wants, Bell said.
There is church next door to where Pastor Conde plans to open his, but all services are held indoors. Bell said he has not had any trouble with noise from that church.
Bell told the council that, with as small a building as the church proposes to use, he wasn’t sure how well it would contain the noise, even if services were held indoors.
Community Development Director Mark Mathes said noise complaints would be handled through the Fellsmere Police Department. City Manager Jason Nunemaker added that officers would use a “reasonable” standard to determine whether the noise escaping the church were indeed a nuisance.
Pasto Conde apologized to Bell and, in general to surrounding neighbors, for having made too much noise that one Sunday. He said it was the only service they have held at the site and it was to celebrate the church’s third anniversary.
The church currently meets at a community center on Esperanza.
While the issue of outside noise seemed addressed with a prohibition on using speakers, the Fellsmere City Council had other concerns.
Such concerns included how many services would be held outside, how many trees would need to be planted on site, and how best to handle parking on the grass.
Pastor Conde initially suggested being allowed to hold outdoor services seven times each week, which was quickly rejected by members of the council. He later suggested 12 a year – not to exceed once a month.
Mayor Susan Adams told the pastor that the purpose of having a church building is to have services in the sanctuary.
Pastor Conde countered, saying that the church is to worship the Lord wherever it can. He questioned being limited to just the building given that he plans to have special events there to help the community, such as a backpack giveaway in time for school to start.
“You telling me I cannot help the community?” he asked, explaining that he would expect about 100 people to line up for free backpacks and school supplies. “We cannot have them inside. You’re limiting me.”
Mayor Adams reminded Pastor Conde that he is trying to establish a small church in a residential area and that requires certain conditions be placed on it. She said if he could not abide by those conditions he might reconsider his location.
“We’re trying to integrate” the church in a residential space, Adams said.
Councilwoman Sara Savage said that delaying a decision on the church would not hold up services because the pastor is still working on getting the necessary permits.
“This needs a little more work,” Savage said in supporting a delay on the decision until September.
