Former Shopko building rezoned for religious institution

CLINTONVILLE – The property where the former Shopko building is located, which has been vacant since July, has been rezoned from retail to religious institution.

At its Oct. 6 meeting, the Clintonville Plan Commission approved a conditional use permit for the property that allows the change in zoning designation.

At the meeting, Clintonville City Administrator Craig Moser told the commission that Hope Community Church would like to use a portion of the property containing the former Shopko building for a church facility. Hope Community Church would also potentially lease out space in the building that the church would not use.

Rick Raatz, a servant management team member for Hope Community Church, told the commission he has met with Clintonville Fire Chief Shane Krueger and the city’s building inspectors regarding the property. He said Hope Community Church is aware that the building needs some work, and the plan would be to have the work completed by Bayland with state approved plans.

For the portion of the building that the church would not use, Raatz said the church is open to having that space be used for “something community related if possible.”

“We’re looking at various options, and like I said, at this point, we’re open with that, whether it’s a daycare center or Big Brothers Big Sisters, different entities,” Raatz said. “We’re looking for input on that, but obviously our first focus right now would be if we were to obtain the property for a portion of it to become Hope Community Church.”

Marshall Faulks, the Clintonville Campus pastor for Hope Community Church, told the commission that he grew up in Clintonville and loves the city.

“It’s been part of my prayer of what it looks like to just be another lighthouse in this community along with the other churches,” Faulks said. “That’s not that we’re just trying to be the only church in town. No, I love the other churches in town, but just that we can be another gospel outpost in this city and be on the southside of town.”

Since religious organizations do not pay property taxes, Ald. Greg Rose asked how property taxes would be paid by businesses renting space in the building if Hope Community Church did indeed rent out building space.

Raatz said he is a property assessor for a number of municipalities, and said that figuring out property taxes for those businesses can be done.

Moser added that the city met with its property assessor and confirmed that businesses could be located in the building and property taxes would be charged for that portion of the property.

Commission member Jack DeWolf asked how much square footage would be needed for the church.

Raatz said the church is looking at preparing the building in phases for the church. The first phase would use 7,000 square feet of the building’s 38,700 square feet. Depending on attendance and growth, the church could expand in the future.

“It seems kind of like a misapplied use of such a big building with manufacturing potential to have it be turned into a church being such a small part of it,” DeWolf said. 

Raatz said Hope Community Church located in Shawano is currently 33,400 square feet.

He added that the former Shopko building has been on the market for several years and the price has been lowered numerous times.

“And nothing has happened with it,” Raatz said.

Ald. Brandon Braden asked if Hope Community Church has already purchased the building.

Raatz said the church has not purchased the property yet. He added that the purchase of the property is contingent on the Plan Commission approving the zoning change request and for the church congregation to approve the purchase of the property with a congregational vote which was scheduled for Oct. 11.

If both those things happen, the closing date for Hope Community Church to purchase the property would be Oct. 15.

After the public hearing, Moser told the commission that the loss of property taxes could not be used as a reason to deny the zoning change request.

Commission member Laurie Vollrath asked how the commission could make a decision on the zoning change request if it did not know how the property taxes would be calculated should businesses rent space in the building in the future.

Moser said initially the city assessor would determine that the entire property is being used by a religious organization. Then in the future, if businesses were to rent space in the building, property taxes would be calculated at that time.

Commission member Mark Doornink said precedent was set when a church organization moved into the former Pick n Save building in Clintonville.

“That’s another example of a property that very well could have stayed abandoned or in disrepair that is now a very good establishment,” Doornink said.

Moser said city staff recommended that if the commission approves the zoning change request, that is also require Hope Community Church to improve the landscaping and provide a parking management plan.

“It sounds like the church is open and willing to do that,” Moser said.