Cornelius Board Unanimously Greenlights Bethel Church Revamp

The Cornelius Town Board voted unanimously on Monday to approve a rezoning request for Bethel Presbyterian Church, clearing the path for a major site overhaul. The decision allows the congregation to tear down its current fellowship hall and construct a new addition in its place.

The approved plan requires the church to relocate its playground from the side of the building to the rear of the property. New parking spaces will be built around the replacement structure to satisfy Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Joseph Roy, speaking for the church, told the board that the site will remain open as an election precinct during the construction period.

About 30 members of the congregation attended the public hearing to voice their support for the modernization effort. Roy noted that several structures on the lot predate the town's Land Development Code. To address these older regulations, the church will dedicate easements along the Bethel Church Road frontage. These easements are intended to accommodate future bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

The site improvements also include the installation of bicycle racks and a new internal sidewalk. This walkway will connect the main building entrance to the existing crosswalk on Bethel Church Road. The church has additionally committed to planting new trees along the road and in other areas of the property.

According to Roy, ground will break on the project in February 2027. The construction team aims to finish the work by the spring of 2028.