THE CHURCH Dayton Diamond Ridge has been operating without the necessary permit and is soon to receive notice from the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).
According to a press release issued by the KSAC yesterday, Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie said a report from the Corporation's Building and Town Department confirmed that the church is operating in breach of regulations.
OPERATING ILLEGALLY
Mr. McKenzie had promised Tuesday to launch an investigation into whether the church, once a residential dwelling, is operating illegally.
Mayor McKenzie said that, based on the investigations, no application was made for expansion of the building which was converted from a single-storey structure.
In addition, the premises were converted into use as a church with residential facilities without approval from the KSAC for change of use or retention of use.
The KSAC's Building and Town Planning Department has reported that there is no record of any application for either change of use, retention of use or construction. Mayor McKenzie said this was in contravention of the city's building and town planning regulations which require approval for all construction, as well as for change of use within a residential community.
Mayor McKenzie said the relevant department has been instructed to prepare the necessary notices for cessation of the unauthorised use of the premises, pending proper application and approval, and they will be served on the church by tomorrow.
The church, located at 6 Dayton Avenue, St. Andrew, is the affiliate worship centre of former deacon, Donovan Jones, now at the centre of a sexual molestation case related to a 13-year-old girl.
