Plymouth BZA denies New Song Church's request to skip sidewalk installation

The Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals voted 4-1 last week to deny a variance request from New Song Church that would have allowed the church to forgo installing a sidewalk as part of its new construction project on Baker Street.

Associate Pastor Rich Schieber and church architect Chet Gamble appeared before the BZA to request the variance of development standards. The church is located at 1292 Baker Street in Plymouth.

During the presentation, Plymouth Plan Director Ty Adley noted that the area along Baker Street includes 140 residences on the north side and 60 homes east of Richter Road. In 2025, the City of Plymouth installed a sidewalk extension on the south side of Baker Street, running from Dora Lane to the church's property line.

Gamble argued that the surrounding area lacks consistent sidewalk infrastructure, pointing out that no sidewalks exist in front of residential properties on the south side of Baker Street or even along the high school property. He contended that installing a sidewalk would create future problems and maintenance issues, and that it would go largely unused. Pastor Schieber echoed that sentiment, saying, "We felt it was a waste of funds."

BZA member Jack Garner questioned whether the cost of the required sidewalk had been factored into the church's project planning, to which the pastor confirmed it had been.

No public comments were made during the hearing.

The church noted that a sidewalk had already been installed along the entrance driveway and expressed a willingness to create a crosswalk from the north side of Baker Street to the church's drive as an alternative solution. "We asked for the variance, hopefully to appeal to some common sense," Schieber said.

Despite the church's arguments, the BZA moved to deny the variance request, with the motion passing 4-1. BZA member Brandon Richie cast the lone dissenting vote against the denial.