Controversial Church Expansion Gets Green Light Despite Neighborhood Pushback

Clark County has approved an expansion for Hamere Noah Kidane Mihret & Saint Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Church despite objections from nearby residents. The zoning commission granted permission Wednesday for the church to construct a new multi-use building on its property. The church, which has been operating since 2012, has long been criticized by neighbors who say services generate noise and illegal street parking.

Nearby residents expressed concern that the expansion could worsen existing traffic and parking issues. One neighbor, Howard Karsh, said the design of the church’s parking lot will matter greatly; if it’s difficult to enter or exit, people will continue to park on neighborhood streets. Church leadership, including Priest Girma Logbicho, assured the commission that additional parking is planned to ease the burden on surrounding neighborhoods.

Some local residents remain skeptical. Karsh said he has yet to believe the church has been “neighborly” in its behavior. Logbicho said the expansion aims not only to serve the congregation’s faith needs, but also to improve relations with neighbors and address quality-of-life complaints. It is not yet clear when construction will begin.

Source: Fox5 Las Vegas