Request for zoning variance to borough 2

Engage Community Church 320 E. Louther Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Phone: 717.701.9557 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.engagechurch.com March 3, 2015 Carlisle Borough Zoning Hearing Board Carlisle, PA Dear Zoning Hearing Board: My name is Rev. Jon Hand of Engage Community Church. Engage is applying for a special zoning exception to allow our congregation to make its home base at 20 N. Hanover Street in Carlisle. Engage Church would like to lease the second floor of the Business Central building, which is currently zoned commercial, and use it for a place for worship. Further, we would use the space as a home base for service to the downtown and the greater Carlisle Community. Engage Church has a track record of providing care, community, and spiritual growth to single mothers and other underserved peoples in the Borough. Our vision is to bridge the ‘burbs’ and the ‘borough’. Currently, half of our congregation of 150+/- lives in the suburbs outside of Carlisle Borough. Those who live outside of the downtown tend to do their shopping, schooling, and entertainment in places outside of the downtown. Often, many who live in the ‘burbs’ do not come into the downtown to experience its flavor, shopping, or to see its needs. People living in the ‘burbs’ live quite unaware of the spiritual, emotional, economic, and psychological needs many who live in the downtown neighborhoods of Carlisle. We want to change that! We believe it is imperative that we bridge together those living in the ‘burbs’ with those living in the ‘borough’. Those in the ‘burbs’ have resources and skills that can serve the needs of many living in the ‘borough’. Those in the ‘borough’ who are underserved and overlooked tend to have attitudes and awareness that can enrich those living in the ‘burbs’. We envision our Church participating in the rhythms of the downtown. We foresee our church participating in First Fridays, downtown festivals, and various other happenings. We also envision hosting family oriented activities to enrich the lives of those living in and near the downtown. We can see our location packed with kids and families living in and near the downtown having family movie nights in the dark winter months. We envision offering our space to the Chamber of Commerce as a venue for mixers, conferences, and the like. Further, our desire is to bring greater exposure and economic flourishing to the downtown. If our congregation would be allowed to take up residence at 20 N. Hanover Street, we would be bringing several hundred people a month into the downtown who may otherwise never have exposure to all that the downtown has to offer. We see this as a win, win. A win for Carlisle Borough is a win for Engage Church. Thank you in advance for considering our request for a special zoning exception. Sincerely, Jon Hand and Paul Sokolofsky Lead Pastor of Engage Church Chairman of the Engage Church Leadership Team

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Page 1: Request for zoning variance to borough 2

Engage Community Church 320 E. Louther Street

Carlisle, PA 17013 Phone: 717.701.9557

E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.engagechurch.com

March 3, 2015

Carlisle Borough Zoning Hearing Board Carlisle, PA

Dear Zoning Hearing Board:

My name is Rev. Jon Hand of Engage Community Church. Engage is applying for a special zoning exception to allow our congregation to make its home base at 20 N. Hanover Street in Carlisle. Engage Church would like to lease the second floor of the Business Central building, which is currently zoned commercial, and use it for a place for worship. Further, we would use the space as a home base for service to the downtown and the greater Carlisle Community. Engage Church has a track record of providing care, community, and spiritual growth to single mothers and other underserved peoples in the Borough.

Our vision is to bridge the ‘burbs’ and the ‘borough’. Currently, half of our congregation of 150+/- lives in the suburbs outside of Carlisle Borough. Those who live outside of the downtown tend to do their shopping, schooling, and entertainment in places outside of the downtown. Often, many who live in the ‘burbs’ do not come into the downtown to experience its flavor, shopping, or to see its needs. People living in the ‘burbs’ live quite unaware of the spiritual, emotional, economic, and psychological needs many who live in the downtown neighborhoods of Carlisle. We want to change that! We believe it is imperative that we bridge together those living in the ‘burbs’ with those living in the ‘borough’. Those in the ‘burbs’ have resources and skills that can serve the needs of many living in the ‘borough’. Those in the ‘borough’ who are underserved and overlooked tend to have attitudes and awareness that can enrich those living in the ‘burbs’.

We envision our Church participating in the rhythms of the downtown. We foresee our church participating in First Fridays, downtown festivals, and various other happenings. We also envision hosting family oriented activities to enrich the lives of those living in and near the downtown. We can see our location packed with kids and families living in and near the downtown having family movie nights in the dark winter months. We envision offering our space to the Chamber of Commerce as a venue for mixers, conferences, and the like.

Further, our desire is to bring greater exposure and economic flourishing to the downtown. If our congregation would be allowed to take up residence at 20 N. Hanover Street, we would be bringing several hundred people a month into the downtown who may otherwise never have exposure to all that the downtown has to offer. We see this as a win, win. A win for Carlisle Borough is a win for Engage Church.

Thank you in advance for considering our request for a special zoning exception.

Sincerely,

Jon Hand and Paul Sokolofsky Lead Pastor of Engage Church Chairman of the Engage Church Leadership Team