The Chadds Ford Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday, Feb. 24, upheld a decision by zoning officer Fran McCardle in his ruling against Calvary Chapel.
Calvary had wanted to build an extension to its current building with a terrace that would have an overhang that would also include sound equipment, TV screens, and lighting equipment at the chapel. However, McCardle, in an email dated September 2025, said the determination was that such an extension was not allowed at that site.
He cited the 2005 conditional use hearing in which Calvary agreed that there would be no extension there. Calvary appealed the decision in December, and the board made its ruling earlier this week.
McCardle said the proposed permanent performance area at the chapel is not permitted in the POC Zoning District, but that Calvary could build such a facility on the other side of Brandywine Drive, on a lot Calvary also owns.
The board’s ruling reads in part: “The proposed outdoor terrace improvements and surrounding land and use thereof represents modification or amendment of the conditions of the original 2005 Conditional Use approval as amended and requires additional conditional use application and approval…The September 2025 determination by the of the township officer as to such use was not improper or incorrect and relied upon information provided to him at that time”
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
