Gateway Church receives 5-year gathering permit

While perpetuity permits are granted in rare cases–mostly for city-hosted events–a number of problems would be avoided by not doing so in this case, Mayor John Terrell said.

"It sets a precedent to have everyone ask [for perpetuity permits]," he said.

Council members were concerned too much could change over five years, so language was added that may require the church to come before the council to get the permit altered.

"We need to build in a mechanism that if we get a complaint we can say, 'You have to come back in,'" Councilman Martin Schelling said.