Dear Grace Fellowship Family:

We wanted to update you on the latest information on the proposed new buildings. As most of you know, we are in preparations for breaking ground on a new building. As we approach that time, we want to continue to give regular updates. In addition, we encourage you to come and pray each week prior to the service at 8:30 in room 11. You can also review the plans in room 10 immediately after Connections this Sunday.

Throughout this process, we want to honor the Lord and see His fame spread. We also have prayed that we will have unity, clarity, wisdom, and peace in all of the decisions that have to be made.

Recently, we submitted the initial site plan to the county for their review and comments. It is then submitted to 7 different departments to look at various things such as septic, parking, fire safety, etc.

Our civil engineer spoke with the county and received initial comments from Forsyth County regarding the site plan. According to the engineer, the county requires some adjustments to nearly every commercial plan that is submitted, and it is to be expected.

That said, the county has presented us with several challenges, which could impact the planned site layout and parking areas. The county is requesting that the planned septic field needs to be larger. In addition, we are also being asked to provide fire truck access within 150 feet of every portion of the buildings. The present plans have the buildings up against the property buffers and planned septic field, so we may have to add a paved driveway circling the buildings. This could require significant changes to the site plan.

Our project manager and representatives from the building and land team are planning to meet with the county’s Environmental Health representative on Wednesday, March 13, to discuss the request to increase the size of the septic field. The team is also setting up follow up meetings with other representatives of the county to discuss alternate ideas and solutions. Please pray for the following:

First, that we declare our trust that God is in control, and that things will work out as they should in His perfect will.
That the county representatives will be able to help us develop solutions that will meet the requirements of the county, be beneficial to the community, and minimize the impact to our church building project.
That we will seek to honor Him in this and in all things.
Please continue to pray that our gracious God guides us through this process and that we are faithful to do His will and depend on Him in this effort for His glory.

As always, please feel free to contact us or to ask any questions that you may have. We’ll see you Sunday!