Collier County commissioners deny approval for proposed Golden Gate Estates church

Reporter: Rachel Cox-Rosen Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
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Collier County commissioners have voted down plans to build a new church in Golden Gate Estates after hearing arguments from people on both sides.

The planning commission gave the approval needed to build a one-story, 5,000 square-foot church at the corner of 22nd Avenue Northeast and 8th Street Northeast in Golden Gate Estates, but was unable to get Collier County commissioners to sign off.

Georgina Ramirez sat for hours in the back corner of the Collier County commission chambers, waiting for the proposal for the new church to be discussed.

Ramirez said it was worth every minute. “The church is very important to me because that’s the Lord in me, by me serving the Lord and serving the church and the pastors.” She said, “we’re not here to make problems for nobody we’re just here to worship the Lord.”

Ramirez was one of several members of the Iglesia Pentecostes Peniel Church at the meeting on Tuesday.

In a sea of white t-shirts, they asked the council for a “Yes” vote on a new, bigger church to be built in Golden Gate Estates (GGE).

Maritza Delgado said, “it’s growing a lot we have a lot of people in GGE. They love to go to church but maybe they feel uncomfortable because it’s too small. The space is very small right now and that’s the reason because we need a class for the teenagers we need the class for the babies too.”

Some Golden Gate Estates neighbors aren’t thrilled with the idea. Heidi Severeyn has been fighting the church for months and gathered petition signatures against it over the summer.

“It’s really simple. Let’s just have residences on the street. But it’s absolutely nothing against any group that wants to do anything, but I think there’s other places that are a better fit for that for sure.”

One commissioner said it will be one of the toughest decisions he’s faced.

The commissioners said that while the church would likely be a good thing for the community, it does not fit the Golden Gate Estates master plan and voted not to allow the project to move forward.

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