By Christine Reid
Camera Staff Writer

LAFAYETTE — All seems to be forgiven between the city and Flatirons Community Church.

The city's planning commission Tuesday night unanimously approved the church's temporary move into the former Country General Store at the intersection of South Boulder Road and U.S. 287.

The approval comes after a dispute erupted in February when the fast-growing church of 1,700 inquired about moving a couple doors down into the larger space. Fearing the loss of hundreds of thousands of sale-tax dollars by allowing a non-retail business into the highly visible space, city officials opposed the plan and even threatened condemnation if the church moved in.

Flatirons fought back. With the help of a national public-interest group that defends religious freedom in land-use issues, church officials discovered that the city's zoning law may have violated a federal law prohibiting governments from treating religious institutions differently from other land-users.

A compromise was struck in the form of a three-year special use permit granting the church the OK to move in while it builds its permanent home elsewhere in the city.

"It's not the way the game starts; it's the way the game ends," said Flatirons executive Pastor Michael Koehn. "We've been looking forward to this day for a long time."

City officials brought another piece of land to Flatirons' attention — 25 acres near 120th and Emma streets — which is currently under contract to be purchased by the church as its permanent home.

"It's not been a secret this is not our ideal tenant for this space," said Lafayette Community Development Director Bonnie Star.

However, it's better than no tenant at all, said city Attorney Pat Tisdale.

Country General filed for bankruptcy protection and vacated the 45,000 square-foot space in November.

Contact reporter Christine Reid at (303) 473-1355 or reidc@thedailycamera.com.

May 29, 2002

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