Despite strong public support at a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, plans for Cobleskill’s Zion Lutheran Church remain paused.
Potential buyer RJ Freitag was seeking a use variance to convert the burned-out church into a restaurant and performance center.
ZBA members, however, held off approval because they want more information about finances; in particular, why having a four-unit residential building––a permitted use––on the site isn’t financially feasible.
Many of the 30 attending last Thursday’s ZBA meeting praised Mr. Freitag’s plan as the only way to save the historic Main Street landmark.
“The decision you make impacts a beautiful, historic building which has been a centerpiece of our Main Street for over 150 years,” Ruth Van Deusen told the board
“If approval is not granted to vary its use, then it will be doomed to sit and deteriorate, be vandalized and eventually be torn down. That would be a tragedy for our community.”
Damaged by a fire in 2020, Zion Lutheran has been on the market for two years, and Mr. Freitag is apparently the only one who’s shown serious interest, several speakers said.
About a dozen people looked at the church, said Tammy Silvestri-Putnam of Better Spaces Realty, and one of the more interested “took one look and walked out.”
Nathan Davis, a trustee of the nearby Community Library, said Mr. Freitag’s the best bet, and his plan is attractive.
“Nobody else is coming in,” he said. “Here’s someone willing to buy it, willing to invest in the community. Every organization I work with, he wants to be part of.”
A restaurant/performance center isn’t allowed on the site, zoned R3, but such uses as housing, health care, day care and nursery and more are legal.
ZBA members focused on housing; Chairman Sandy MacKay said the four-unit residential use would meet requirements.
Estimates to restore the church range from $750,000 to more than $1 million, and several at the meeting said none of the legal uses––especially housing––would allow a buyer to get a decent return.
Mr. MacKay said Mr. Freitag must submit information to show that a legal use isn’t realistic, thereby making the variance for a change of use possible.
Although board member Mike Moore was ready to grant the variance, fellow board member Sandy Poole agreed that Mr. Freitag should demonstrate financial hardship.
If the board doesn’t request that information, Ms. Poole said, “What about the next person who comes along?”
At Mr. MacKay’ suggestion “that we accept the criticism that financials are inadequate,” he said the board should keep the public hearing open and schedule another meeting.
To give Mr. Freitag time to gather information, the meeting will be March 26.