Amador County – The Amador Catholic Center is seeking a lot split and a Use Permit for its planned church in Martell, and the request will get consideration by the Amador County Technical Advisory Committee next week.

The Technical Advisory Committee Wednesday will consider a three-way lot split of the former Prospect Motors property and also the Use Permit request to allow a church on the property located west of State Route 49 in Martell, on the west side of Prospect Drive, in the Sierra West Business Park.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Sacramento has proposed the division of the 11.61 acre parcel into three parcels of approximately 6.8, 3.25 and 1.56 acres each. The Bishop also is requesting a Use Permit for a church there, namely the Amador Catholic Center. The church would be located on a parcel that is zoned “M” for Manufacturing, according to county code.

The Technical Advisory Committee members, according to the announced meeting agenda, “will review the application for completeness prior to acceptance,” and will “evaluate potential environmental impacts, propose conditions” and/or “mitigation measures, and make a project recommendation to the Planning Commission.”

The Committee meets at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, in Conference Room A at the County Administration Center in Jackson.

Three Amador County Catholic parishes and the Diocese of Sacramento purchased the former Prospect Motors building and land last December as a home to the all-new Amador Catholic Center, a multi-purpose facility to support the social and spiritual needs of all three parishes.

Sacred Heart of Ione, St. Patrick’s in Jackson and Immaculate Conception in Sutter Creek churches will continue having weekday and Sunday masses, but the three parishes will consolidate some social, educational and other activities at the new Center, including some masses.

Sacramento Bishop, the Most Reverend Jaime Soto in December said it was “the culmination of 10 years of discussion and planning,” and “with a declining number of priests we have to find ways to share resources.”

Father Liam MacCarthy, the former pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, was appointed by Soto to manage the project and serve as interim pastor of the three parishes, taking over for Father Tom Seabridge, who on January 1st was to begin a six-month sabbatical before his next assignment.

The Center will have worship space with up to 600 seats, a youth center and gymnasium, offices, classrooms, kitchen and a large social hall.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.