Church Proposals Trouble Montgomery

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, who is campaigning for the Democratic nomination for governor, also has an interest in the debate.

On the campaign trail, Duncan boasts about the 98,000-acre reserve while noting that Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) has explored selling some state land. Duncan has also been mining black churches for votes.

Concerned about a slow erosion of the county's rural heritage, the council balked at the churches' requests earlier this year. Council members, with the consent of Duncan, formed a working group of local officials to study the issue while they put the requests on hold.

The working group's findings, to be presented to the council today, will include calls to prohibit sewer hookups for private institutional facilities in the reserve. Those facilities could still install septic tanks, but the working group also recommends that no development in the reserve build on more than 15 percent of the land it owns.

Bruce Johnson, pastor of Seneca Creek Community Church, said recently that he envisions not just a sanctuary but also a day-care center, classrooms, soccer fields and an outdoor amphitheater for his church's new home.

Bethel World Outreach wants to build on 120 acres in the preserve.

Final council action on the proposed zoning changes is expected this fall.

"If it were not a church, I don't think we would have a problem saying no," Leventhal said.