Salvation Slavic Baptist Church has submitted a proposal to construct a 92,000 square foot church with a 2,000-person sanctuary, 7,500 square foot gym, a 30-classroom school, a ball field, and 546 parking spaces on the 19.19 acre site located at 1707 23rd Avenue (Pierce County parcel no. 0420043007). This property is presently a hay field with a red house and is zoned residential single family. The proposal includes demolition of the existing house and engulfing 38% of the parcel with impervious surfaces (pavement or buildings with roofs). 

This proposal does not align with the character of our neighborhood and would adversely affect the community from severely increased traffic, increased noise, increased light pollution, decrease in wildlife habitat, changes in aquifer recharge and water quality/quantity effects to Surprise Lake, decreases in pedestrian safety, and lastly and most importantly, our small town character. Milton’s current visioning plan calls for eventual single-family homes on this parcel and maps within the comprehensive plan show the same. Apartments and other higher density structures are not a permitted use on this parcel so could not be built here. 

The proposal should be permitted and allowed to move forward as a church as long as the size of the structure does not exceed 12,200 square feet on a lot size not to exceed 4.9 acres. This is the size of Mission Woods and the biggest church currently in the area. A church of this size has not had detrimental effects. A church 7.5 times bigger that holds 3 services a week, private K-12 school Monday through Friday, and special events on all days with plans to exceed the parking allotment does not fit within the character of our city, let alone our residential neighborhoods. A church of the proposed size only belongs on a major roads such as Meridian, Enchanted Parkway, or highway 99—not on our town streets.