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Avon Wesleyan Church
gets conditional approval from
The Town of Caledonia Planning Board reviewed the plans presented by the Avon Wesleyan Church for a new 18,000 square foot church that will be constructed on the corner of River Road and Avon-Caledonia Road (route 5 and 20) in the Town of Caledonia. The board issued a conditional use permit pending clarification on the town parking code as it applies to the proposed church parking area. The board reached its decision at the June 24, 2009 meeting. The AWC is planning to build the new one-story church on 27 acres of land it owns at the Rt. 5 intersection. NYSDOT required that the main entrance parking to the church be from River Road rather than the main highway. Upon reviewing the plans presented, the PB has concerns over the safety of entering and exiting the parking area at the location on River Road that is in close proximity to the intersection. The PB plans to contact DOT to express their concern with the plan. The church’s building committee does not agree with the DOT recommendation for the River Road entrance and has agreed with the TPB’s decision to contact DOT regarding the matter. Architectural plans call for parking along the front and sides of the building, which may not comply with town zoning code. The PB is reviewing the specifics of the local code with the town attorney before final approval of the project is given. The church plans to preliminary site work this year and break ground on the building in 2010. The building includes a main sanctuary that will also be used as fellowship hall and large group conference area. It also includes several classrooms, a nursery, offices and a youth room. The property will be landscaped and in the future the church plans to construct athletic fields and an outdoor pavilion. Avon Wesleyan Church is currently located on Genesee Street in the Village of Avon. With an average attendance of about 270 people, they have outgrown the 1974 addition and the 1992 renovations and believe it is time to relocate to a larger space where they can expand the church’s many programs, said Pastor Dan Jones who has pastured the church along with his wife since 2006. Pastor Jones says the church’s ministry to children and young families is their defining direction. "The church has intentionally invested in staff and resources to equip these ministries to meet the challenges young families face. Through multi-generational services and activities every person in the family learns from the others and is able to share their gifts and talents," the pastor explained. There are many programs available to adults at AWC as well, including a variety of bible fellowships and men and women’s ministries to encourage spiritual growth and service to other people. That is the primary reason for the relocation of the church, Jones said. The new church facility will make it easier to reach new people in the kind of ways that define AWC. "Our new campus will help us realize the mission God has given us in helping every person in the Genesee Valley discover a life-changing ever-growing relationship with Christ. Our new campus is a ministry tool," commented Pastor Jones.
The planned new Avon Wesleyan Church will be situated at the corner of Rt. 5 (Avon-Caledonia Road) and River Road. The church plans to preliminary site work in the coming months and break ground on the main building in 2010. Images courtesy of Nichols Team and Hanlon Architects. The main church building features a sanctuary,
several classrooms, offices and youth rooms.
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