NLV church must find a new home

Friday, July 5, 2002 | 8:42 a.m.

Betty Smith, pastor of the House of Deliverance Church in North Las Vegas, is looking for a new space to hold prayer services.

The North Las Vegas City Council followed its staff's recommendation to deny allowing churches to operate in office complexes. The House of Deliverance Ministering Team of Christ Church was the first house of worship to ask the City Council for a change in its zoning.

The vote on Wednesday was 4-1, with Councilman William Robinson casting the dissenting vote.

The church had been operating illegally at 4116 Craig Road for more than a year when residents complained about noise.

Smith explained that prayer services are held at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, as well as Sunday services.

"How can we put a limit on God?" Smith said of the evening hours the church is open.

Several church members live in the neighborhood, Smith said. The church also has a three-year lease from property owner Robert Brown.

Mayor Michael Montandon said he sympathized with Smith.

City Planning Manager Steve Baxter said the church is 10 feet away from nearby residences while city code requires a 50-foot separation -- the reason the staff had recommended denying the church the right to continue operating there.

The property's landlord had said that no churches would be allowed into the complex, Baxter said.

Although she supported denying the church its space, Councilwoman Stephanie Smith said city staff would be willing to help the pastor find other quarters.

"I feel badly for the church," she said.

The North Las Vegas Planning Commission had unanimously recommended allowing the church to operate at its current location.