Click on the following to see architectural drawings: (1) Photo-like exterior rendering; (2) Exterior Elevations; (3) Master Site Plan of the 14 acres; (4) Inside Floor Plan
Click Here! for the 37 minute recorded Highlights to the Building Plans Unveiling Meeting held on Sept. 14, 2008.
Click Here! to see the 12 page booklet handout - includes various pictures of inside and outside 3D renderings, the vision-in-focus, and explanation of our "For Such A Time As This" Capital Campaign. Be patient, it's a 2.6 MB file.
Spring / Summer 2010 Update
First, regarding the property sub-dividing - Everything has finally been completed to split the parcel into three and submitted to Riverside County. A final map check by them and a final fee payment check by us and the process will go to formal recording. Completing this process is imminent, after which we will be free to seek to sell the two 10-acre parcels.
Second, we were able to obtain an easement for water line construction from a neighbor in the housing tract SE of the project property, which will allow us to bring water to the site with a shorter water line run than from the pump station on Riverside. The easement was formerly recorded in June.
Third, we have entered into the next phase of the Engineering for water line and site development with Peck Engineering, and for the next phase of Construction Design Development with CharestCorp. Both contracts are foundational to the process which will eventually bring us to building permits.
November 2009 Update
The Riverside County "Directors Hearing" was held Sept. 24, in which formal approval for our preliminary plans was confirmed. This now brings us to the next phase of contracting for the formal working (or construction) drawings which would coordinate all the various engineering and planning areas into the actual plan to build what has been conceptually approved. This phase would end with the anticipated obtaining of building permits to be able to start the actual building.
The preparation and coordination of these drawings is a costly phase and our leadership board is currently evaluating the decision as to the right timing to move ahead. In the meantime, we will be seeking to formalize some agreements related to the extension of the city water line and the engineering of that line extension.
Additionally, the plans for subdividing the 34 acres into the three separate parcels has been completed and submitted to county surveying. We expect the subdivision to be complete within the next 2-3 months.
May 2009 Update
Over the last 6 weeks we've seen the following two movements:
(1) The Blythe City Council approved our request to allow extension and tie into the Blythe water. This will of course be at our expense, but in the long run a better alternative than on-site massive water storage, maintenance, etc.
(2) The Riverside LDC gave approval to our preliminary plans, after 3 meetings and various minor revisions to the plans (which we're told is actually pretty fast to move through this part of the process). So at this point, all the revisions to site plan are pretty much done and aren't really subject to changes. This approval gave only one real condition we didn't anticipate - we will need to do sidewalk, curb, and gutter along the WHOLE Ehlers frontage, not just in front of the development area.
We are currently awaiting the county "Director's Hearing" in which the preliminary plans and county conditions are expected to be approved formally, thus allowing us to move into the preparation of actual construction plans. This meeting is expected toward the latter part of May.
A couple of issues to keep in prayer:
(1) The City water extension option is indeed good, but provides some challenges as well. We'll soon be addressing these issues with city, county, PVID, and nearby property neighbors.
(2) The country economic difficulties have made funds available for new project loans somewhat scarce.. God knows our needs and the whole timing of the project. We trust in Him to lead and provide in the perfect way and timing.
March 2009 Update
To meet conditions required by Riverside county, we have recently added an additional member to our design team, STB Landscape Architechs in Redlands. They, along with our architech, civil engineer, and surveyor, are completing / revising design drawings to be submitted to the county by 3/12.
Then, our next LDC meeting with the county will be held on 3/26, which, if all appears to be in order, could result in an April scheduling for the "Director's Hearing", at which time preliminary design concept plans and conditions could be approved!!
That "approval" would allow us to commence the construction drawing phase - which would eventually (est. apx. 9 months) bring us to the actual issuing of building permits and allow us to begin construction.
On another front, we have reevaluated our previous plan to use our own well and on site storage tank for water needs. Due to the massive requirements for dedicated fire storage (90,000 gal.) and very high expenses that go along with that, we are currently investigating the possibility of bringing in Blythe water, which would require (at our expense) a line extension apx. 650 ft. west on Riverside Dr. and then another 450 ft. north on Ehlers to the site. We're currently getting preliminary bids to evaluate. The Blythe City Council will be addressing our request at their 3/24 meeting.
January 2009 Update
LDC (Land Development Committee) meetings were held 1/22 with the county of Riverside to review and respond to their initial conditions imposed on both the MPP (building issues) and PM (land split) processes. Requirements such as issues related to transportation, existing electrical lines, fire service, health and sewage, dedicated right of ways, archaeological and palianthological, etc., were addressed. The meeting seemed to go very well and God granted a good and cooperative spirit in the meetings, with even some potentially project hindering conditions laid aside.
For now, our design team needs to make some modifications to some of the design documents, and we will be very shortly contracting the services of a landscape architech for preliminary designs to be submitted at our next LDC meeting, projected for mid-March.
December 2008 Update
We have two submittals related to the project that we have now completed: (1) The Major Plot Plan application ["MPP"] on 11/18/08, and (2) The Parcel Map application ["PM"] on 12/11/08.
The "MPP" shows the county the preliminary plans of what we intend to build and what we intend to initially develop on the site. It, along with the drawings of our architech, civil engineer, geotechnical engineer, etc., have been submitted and will be reviewed by county planning and thus begins a several month process of addressing issues and making modifications and clarifications toward eventual approval.
Our first scheduled meeting with the county in response to the MPP is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2009.
The other submittal, the "PM", is for the purpose of subdividing the parcel and is now in process of review.
Both applications take some time to work their way through the system with appropriate approvals. We anticipate that the first part of 2009 will largely be spent in this process. So, the big answer to the question everyone's asking, "When will we build?" is this: If all goes smoothly in the process, we're looking at possibly breaking ground in Spring 2010.
September 2008 Update
On Sept. 14th we unveiled the projected building design, elevations, master site plan, and final floor plan for the project prepared by CharestCorp Church Design-Builders.
Pastor Mick explained the goals of our ministry and how the building was designed to fit and flow in conjunction with those goals. Our administrative project manager, Molly McMillian, also explained some process and time issues related to the County application and permiting. Pastor Mick then also introduced our special "For Such A Time As This" Capital Campaign to the congregation.
On Sept. 15, the geotech engineering firm was at the site drilling for various samples for soil testings. Their report will be forthcoming.
We're about 4 weeks away from formal submital of our Major Plot Plan Application (along with the civil engineering, geotech, surveying, and design preliminaries) to the County or Riverside. They then will initially respond to that application within about 6 weeks, after which we ultimately anticipate an APPROVAL and CONDITIONING of the project.
July 2008 Update
All of the required initial on-site & arial surveying work has now been completed & formalized maps to be submitted to the county are in the process of preparation.
Our Elder Board has worked over the last two months with CharestCorp in revising, reworking, and now approving a basic floor plan & general site plan. To see the approved concept drawings, click on: FLOOR PLAN or SITE PLAN. CharestCorp architechs are currently in process of preparing 3D renderings which should ready for initial review process with the Elders the first week in August.
Additionally, Greenlight Consulting is working on our behalf to obtain bids for required on-site civil engineering & geotech services.
Upon completion of all the above, we will be ready to submit the "Major Plot Plan Application" to Riverside County for their review & specific conditioning of our project.
May 2008 Update
In the summer of 2007, we completed the purchase of 34 acres, bordered by Ehlers Road and Riverside Drive (see mapping and presentation links below). We have recently contracted with CharestCorp Church Design-Builders for design and building oversight services.
They met with our leadership board and with many from the congregation at a general "Vision-Casting" meeting on April 10, 2008, and are currently preparing a master site plan, floorplan, and elevation architectual renderings for our project. They should be ready around the end of July. Upon our approval, they will be submitted in the near future to Riverside County for review and conditioning.
If you'd like to aquaint yourself a little with CharestCorp click HERE , and you will be directed to their general website where you'll see their vision, some of their projects, and lots of helpful building related info. Adobe Reader is required to view the file and can be downloaded free by clicking on the "Adobe Reader" button below.
General Information
In the summer of 2007, we completed the purchase of 34 acres, In April & Oct. of 2007, Pastor Mick shared an overview of the building project. Click on the following to review either or both:
Building Project Overview (slides & info of the 2007 presentation)
Upon viewing the presentation, please take a few minutes to pray for our outreach and expansion here in Blythe.
