After years of worshiping at another church’s building, a State College-based Lutheran congregation is looking to build a new church of its own in Patton Township.
Representatives for Emmanuel Lutheran Church spoke at the township planning commission’s meeting on Monday to present a sketch plan for the proposed facility at the corner of Stevenson Road and North Atherton Street. Sketch plans are optional and are intended to garner feedback before beginning the land development process.
Founded in 2015, Emmanuel Lutheran Church currently worships at the Albright-Bethune United Methodist Church, 206 S. Burrowes St., State College.
Steve Foard, president of the church’s board, told the planning commission that when the 10-acre Stevenson Road property became available in late 2022, a couple who are members of the congregation “took a leap of faith” and purchased it as a possible site for a new church building.
“… [T]o get approval through the congregation and all would take a long time and we knew obtaining property is really challenging,” Foard said.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church then acquired the property in June.
Civil engineer HRG, Inc. evaluated the land and determined it would be suitable for the congregation’s plans, which include a sanctuary for 150 people, as well as classrooms and fellowship space. The church also is considering a pre-school or daycare for about 50 children.
The property is located in the township’s A-1 rural district and I-99 overlay district, where a church and school are permitted as conditional uses.
No public water or sewer currently run to the site. A private well likely would be constructed, Foard said, because the church learned from the State College Borough Water Authority that running a waterline along North Atherton Street to the property would cost about $750,000.
The property also is outside the current Centre Region Regional Growth Boundary and Sewer Service Area and expanding that would involve a lengthy process ultimately requiring approval by five of the six Centre Region Council of Governments General Forum member municipalities.
Foard said that they are prepared to use an on-site septic system, but noted that construction is still several years away and they would be interested in connecting to public sewer if the boundary expands by then.
He anticipated that construction would not begin until at least 2025, pending township and permit approvals
Access to the property would be from Stevenson Road, and the church expects a low-volume driveway permit from PennDOT will be required.
HRG prepared two potential site layouts, one with the church building closer to Atherton Street and one with it further down on Stevenson Road. Planning commission members recommended having the building further away from Atherton Street.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church now plans to retain an architect and land planner to further develop plans.
“We are early on in the process,” Foard said. “We purchased the property in June and we’re looking to take steps forward.”
