Lake Zurich church wants Main Street building for new home

Northwest Family Church’s leader has outlined a tentative idea to move the flock to a building near an industrial area in Lake Zurich.

Senior Pastor Skyler Goodman gave what was billed as an informal “courtesy presentation” to the Lake Zurich village board Monday. The church, which has an office on Telser Road in Lake Zurich, has yet to formally file documents regarding the concept with the village and would need to go through an approval process.

Northwest Family Church worshippers have been gathering for Sunday services at Lake Zurich Regal Theaters since launching in 2000. On average, the church draws a combined 300 worshippers to two weekly Sunday services, Goodman said.

But the church has started to pursue other opportunities in Lake Zurich because its lease with the theater ends in February, Goodman said. He said a building at 143 E. Main St., at Route 22, would be appropriate for Northwest Family.

“We’ve looked at a lot of different properties,” he said.

Homerun Sports & Fitness early this month vacated the building, which is under an industrial zoning classification. Homerun has moved to a new location on Oakwood Road in Lake Zurich.

Northwest Family would need a special-use permit to occupy the structure at 143 E. Main. Goodman told the village board the permit would be appropriate because the building is outside an industrial park, and that the church is willing to enter a long-term lease.

“Lake Zurich has been and we hope it’ll continue to be a permanent base of operations,” Goodman said.

Trustee Mark Loewes raised a concern about whether there would be enough parking to accommodate the worshippers at 143 Main St. Goodman said the church still is trying to determine the number of spaces it would need, and that off-site parking could be a possibility.

Officials directed the church to work on its plan with the village building and zoning department.

In 2005, church officials had expressed interest in buying 60 acres owned by Lake Zurich Unit District 95 in Hawthorn Woods, but village officials discouraged the idea because the land was zoned for residential use.

Northwest Family Church drew a little more than 100 worshippers to nondenominational weekly services when it formally started in September 2000. It introduced itself to the community by hosting a free carnival with games and snacks at a Lake Zurich park.