A West End church has received a conditional-use permit to add a school building to its property on Carthage Road.

The Moore County Planning Board voted unanimously at its Thursday night meeting to grant Faith Baptist Church a permit to proceed with plans to operate a school in association with Liberty University.

The Rev. Tony Connor, pastor of the church, told the board that the school will not be open to the public and there are no plans to exceed the maximum 25 students allowed in the conditional-use permit. In its first year, the school will serve 11 students and one faculty member. Under the CUP, the school cannot exceed 25 students and two faculty members.

Connor said the church wants to operate the school as a service to its congregation. In association with Liberty University, the school will offer elementary and high school courses from Liberty through the Internet. He explained that this is the reason the faculty is so small.

Staff planner Chris Armstrong said the request calls for the school building to be added to the existing church structure. The 7.53-acre tract is located east of the Carthage Road intersection with Beulah Hill Church Road. Zoning is Rural Agricultural District.

Armstrong recommended nine conditions, five of which are required under the zoning ordinance. Parking requirements, buffering, playground and outdoor lighting are among the issues covered in the conditions.

The Planning Board held a quasi-judicial hearing to consider the request, but no one spoke in opposition to the proposal.

Kim VonCanon made the motion to approve the request.

The board approved one other CUP request at the meeting.

Steven George asked for a conditional use permit to add a manufactured home as an accessory dwelling unit on his 4.81-acre parcel at 220 Tarp Road, Vass, about one mile south of Lobelia Road. The property is zoned Rural Agriculture.

George said he wants to add the accessory unit to house family members.

Once again, no opposition was expressed during the quasi-judicial hearing. Dave Kinney made the motion to approve the permit, with the required conditions attached, and approval was unanimous.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.