The plans are being turned down because the church wants tobuild on agriculturally-zoned land that allows for "a permanentlylocated building used primarily for worship" but not one usedprimarily for administration. As planned, only 2,400-sf of thethree-story structure would be as a worship center, with the restdedicated to business and administration.

The 29-acre parcel in question is located just east ofInterstate 5, directly south of the Tri-Mountain Golf Course onNorthwest 289th Street. In addition to being agriculturally zoned,the county has been planning to zone it for industrial use when itis brought inside the urban growth boundary. Having a large churchthere could limit industrial development. The church has appealedthe staff's decision to county land-use hearings examiner RichardForester. A decision is expected before the end of the month.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has more than 10 millionmembers internationally. Its headquarters are currently in Portlandat Burnside and Northeast 102nd Avenue, where it has been since1970.