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Residents of the Tanque Verde Valley northeast of Tucson first learned about plans for a new, nondenominational church in their neighborhood late last year.

Since then, they've been fighting John Fazio's Mesquite Grove Chapel planned for 3 acres at 1902 N. Tanque Verde Loop Road.

Residents view the church as a front for a wedding-event center that will bring in unwanted crowds, noise and traffic congestion to their serene neighborhood.

"Our biggest concern is the safety, which includes the serving of alcohol, the dark streets; it's an unusual, dark area with lots of dead-end roads," said Diana Jones of the Tanque Verde Valley Group, which opposes the church.

Fazio said his church would operate like any other, and include weddings and regular religious services. The church also would be a gathering place for nonprofits and other community groups, Fazio noted.

Since Mesquite Grove would function as a church, it should be exempt from zoning restrictions as federal law prescribes, Fazio maintains.

The Pima County Board of Adjustments on Tuesday reaffirmed an earlier interpretation of the county zoning code by Tina Whittemore, chief zoning inspector, that the intended use of the property appeared to be primarily that of an event center, not a church.

"We completely disagree with that," said Fazio, a minister. "The reason is because communion and worship are the two elements that occur. And for example, an event center does not have a pastor."

Nor does it have an associate pastor, weekly Bible studies or worship services three times a week, he said.

"There is a difference between an event center and a church," he said.

Reflections at the Buttes in Oro Valley, where he officiates at weddings, is an event center, Fazio said. "Mesquite Grove Chapel is a church."

The board's decision elated Tanque Verde Valley residents.

"I think they looked at all the information and made the best decision that they could make," Jones said.

Fazio has 30 days from Tuesday to appeal the board's decision in Pima County Superior Court, Whittemore said.

"We will look at other options beyond that," Fazio said. "But we anticipate that we will be speaking with the Superior Court."

Neighborhood residents are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

"We do have an attorney lined up," Jones said.

Lourdes Medrano