Calvary Chapel amphitheater conversation amps up
This is part of a larger series. See the full series on the Calvary Chapel conversation here.
Remember when Calvary Chapel wanted to build a coffee terrace that looked oddly similar to a concert venue? 🧐 If you haven’t seen the renderings, it’s worth a look! I prepared a little write-up on it a while back after watching the Chapel’s presentation to the Chadds Ford Planning Commission on the matter. It was a thing.
The township zoning board denied this use, and Calvary Chapel is appealing the zoning decision. If you’re curious, their “Covered Terrace Plan” includes:
- three large video screens
- a video room
- an audio room
- four speakers
- stage light bar
- and more
I’m not an architect, but this smells more like a concert venue than a place to chat over coffee. It certainly doesn’t give off the neighborhood Starbies vibes. 🍵 Maybe that’s just me.
Nearby neighbors have serious concerns about the entertainment space’s impact on their quality of life and about the chapel’s transparency regarding its development plans throughout much of the organization’s life in Chadds Ford.
To push their efforts forward, Calvary Chapel filed a lawsuit against Chadds Ford Township alleging… I’m not a lawyer, but it essentially amounts to a claim that the township is violating the organization’s religious freedom.
As far as I can tell, they’re basically saying, “You’re impeding our ability to practice our religion if we can’t host revival concerts in this $4.5 million amphitheatre coffee terrace.” It’s related to the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA). I’m not going to pretend I have all the legal details, and I’m certainly not qualified to offer an opinion on the legal manifestation of the situation.
I assume most residents care that:
- There is litigation filed against the township to compel it to allow this new construction.
- Nearby neighbors feel their right to a peaceful existence in their own homes has been violated on multiple occasions by the chapel (and will be even worse if this addition is constructed).
More to come on this, but the zoning hearing board meeting is next Tuesday, December 16, at 7 pm at the township building (10 Ring Rd). It’s expected to be a packed house, with residents opposing the plan and chapel members supporting the renovation.
Whether Calvary Chapel pursues the litigation it filed remains to be seen. It is undoubtedly dependent on the outcome of the zoning hearing board meeting. Legal pursuit is expensive for both parties. Moreover, it will require Calvary Chapel to disclose substantial information about financial and other matters through discovery that it may not be inclined to share.
So… TBD. But if you feel strongly about this matter, consider attending the meeting as an advocate.
