Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
For the third time in two months, the Shawano Common Council has approved a conditional use permit for a church to use commercial space in the city for its services.
The council on Wednesday approved a permit for Toni Properties LLC that will allow tenant New Hope Presbyterian Church to use space at 1415 E. Green Bay St., otherwise known as Sterling Plaza, for Sunday services.
The three-year lease is an expansion of church operations conducted at 104 N. Airport Road. The move will allow for a larger, more permanent facility to accommodate the church’s following, according to their permit application letter.
The church will use Suite 121B, which had been vacant for many years and went through foreclosure proceedings before being purchased and rehabilitated.
In December, the Common Council approved conditional use permits for the use of two other buildings for church services.
Both churches were new start-up operations in Shawano that could move to permanent locations at some point in the future, according to the permit applications filed with the city.
Shawano Baptist Church was given approval to move into Suite 100 at 102 E. Green Bay St. for church services to be held Wednesday evenings and Sundays.
The Baptist church has entered into a one-year lease, with expectations of moving into a larger facility after the lease expires, according to the permit application.
The roughly 960-square-foot suite was used by Security Finance until July and has been vacant since. The building is also occupied by Wells Fargo Mortgage.
Freedom of the Word Inc., a nondenominational church, was granted a conditional use permit to share space with All Floors & More at 805 E. Green Bay St., for worship services on Sunday and another service midweek.
Freedom of the Word would occupy the southwest corner of the building, or roughly 1,800 square feet. The church entered into a five-year lease for the space, according to the permit application.