Prince George's County Council members on Thursday denied a Seventh Day Adventist church's bid to build a sanctuary in Laurel.
It's the third time since 2003 that Reaching Hearts International has asked for a change to water and sewer regulations on 13.7 acres in West Laurel, and the third time the church's efforts have been stymied by the council.
The church won a $3.7 million religious discrimination lawsuit against the county in 2008, and a judge ruled that the county must process any future requests by the Reaching Hearts to change its water and sewer category without any ill will.
But the council ruled that changing the regulation would potentially hurt the Rocky Gorge Reservoir, about one mile from the church's property.
The large-scale development planned by the church may reduce the reservoir's storage capacity and threaten the quality of drinking water in a predominantly rural and residential area, said Councilwoman Mary Lehman, D-Laurel.
Instead, the church could build its facility on the front portion of the 17 acres of property it owns, which already is designated in a water and sewer category ready for construction.
Reaching Hearts wants to build a 900-seat sanctuary and a 12,000-square-foot gymnasium on the plot of land off Brooklyn Bridge Road, which the congregation bought for $800,000 in 2001. Church officials also plan to operate a K-8 grade school for about 200 students.
"To me it's no different than 2003. Same talk, same logic, same attitude," said Pastor Michael Oxentenko.
The church, which rents space at the Cedar Ridge Conference Center in Spencerville, is unable to fulfill its mission without a new facility, Oxentenko said.
The church's lawyer, Ward Coe III, said the congregation will consider its options, including asking the court to find the county in contempt of the judge's 2008 order.
"Of course there's disappointment, but we're resolved. We're not giving up on this thing," Oxentenko said.
