Harmar board rules Feeding the Flock is not a church, leaders to decide next step

Harmar’s zoning hearing board decided Thursday to deny Feeding the Flock’s request to move into a former church and run a house of worship and food pantry.

The nonprofit organization had hoped to move into the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses building at 490 Nixon Road.

The zoning officer had already denied the initial application because they said Feeding the Flock wasn’t going to use the building as a church or house of worship, which are the only nonresidential uses permitted for the property.

The building is in a residential zoning district.

The decision came down to what the primary use of the location will be — a house of worship or a food distribution center. The board ruled that based on testimony given in a February hearing that the primary use would be a food bank.

“They keep saying it’s a food pantry,” chairman of the zoning board James Devlin said. “Food pantry is not allowed in that area.”

The board also denied to grant the group a variance or special exception to use the property.

Michele Bock, director of Feeding the Flock, said she was “deflated” after hearing the board’s decision.

“This is going to delay us a lot, and it’s going to add a financial burden,” she said. “This isn’t the end of it, I can tell you that.”

Feeding the Flock has 30 days to file an appeal of the decision to Allegheny County Court.

Bock said the organization would have a board meeting and meet with their lawyer to decide their next step.

Feeding the Flock officials have always maintained the organization is a nondenominational Christian house of worship. They intend to offer Bible study classes for all faiths, counseling and operate a free food pantry for residents in need.

Feeding the Flock’s lawyer, David York, previously said Harmar’s definition of a church is broad and the organization’s planned activities fit into the definition.

The definition says a church is “the building, containing as the central room, the sanctuary and meeting place of a religious congregation, including no dwelling in the same building.”

There is no definition given for a house of worship. But township Solicitor Kate Diersen said if no definition is given then the default is to use a dictionary’s definition, which she said lists house of worship as synonymous with a church.