The Development Applications Board has approved plans by the New Testament Church of God on North Shore Road in Devonshire to build a new multi-purpose hall and an eight-foot sea wall with planters.

The existing building was designed and built as a photo processing facility in 1970 and was purchased by New Testament in 1986.

The building currently contains a sanctuary which seats 190 people. The new upper level is expected to be used as a Sunday school and facilities room.

The Sunday school will be able to seat 64 people from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the meeting and facilities area will be large enough for 120 people.

The proposal does not entail an increase in seating capacity.

The addition of the eight-foot sea wall is to block the salt spray in the current parking area.

Apparently many members of the congregation were parking along North Shore Road to avoid the spray.

This week's DAB approval came after a number of previous applications had been rejected.

Plans were dismissed earlier this year on the grounds that the facility had insufficient parking and that the "overall appearance and visual impact (would be) detrimental to the surrounding area''.

The Board has reserved final approval on all details relating to the external appearance of the building and landscaping of the site.

The New Testament Church of God in the City of Hamilton also received the go-ahead from the DAB this week to build a new sanctuary addition.

The sanctuary will be located on the west side of Heritage Hall on Dundonald Street.

The site -- a vacant 10,000-foot area -- is currently used as an informal parking lot for the church.

The new building will provide 14,000 square feet of floor space on two levels and provide seating for 4,956 members of the congregation.

And the Board stipulated that the entire site be landscaped within three months of completion.

Go-ahead given to Belco The Bermuda Electric Light Company Ltd. was recently given the go-ahead to build a multi-million dollar power station.

The Development Applications Board approved plans for a new power station building, two diesel generator sets, electrical and mechanical auxiliaries, an exhaust stack, new access roads and external radiators and tanks.

The $41 million project tagged as "Generation Expansion'' will see the addition of two 216-ton 14.3 megawatt engines and a 205-foot concrete stack.

The engines are expected to boost capacity by 12 percent to 158 megawatts.

Belco has stated by phasing out an old engine, and reducing the running of another, the new construction will overall lead to a reduction in emissions.

And chief executive officer Garry Madeiros has assured that Belco had taken care to ensure environmental standards.

The company originally submitted plans for the expansion over the past year.

However the original plan was sent back because of concerns about the operation and environmental impact of the project.

He said there would be no increase in the noise level at the plant and the new engines will be placed on air springs that would absorb at least 90 percent of the vibrations.

Demolition has already begun, and Mr. Madeiros suggested construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of the year.

Permission for more units A Hamilton guest house has received planning permission to build on ten additional tourist units.

The Development Applications Board will allow Rosemont owner Cyril Cooper to demolish seven existing units, remove one unit and build 18 new tourist units -- creating an increase of ten units.

The building will be designed in an "L'' shape and will have laundry and storage on the basement level, nine units on the ground level, and nine units on the upper level.

Approval for the extension was granted following an appeal hearing last month when then-Environment Minister Harry Soares gave in-principle approval to Rosemont guest house but laid down a range of alterations which would have to be made to the plans before it received final approval.

He made the decision after UK Planning inspector Peter Cuming said appeals against the plans should be allowed and permission should not be granted, following a public appeal hearing held earlier this year when objectors and the applicant made their case before Mr. Cuming.

Neighbouring property owner Judith Montgomery-Moore and resident Monroe Trout both feared their privacy would be invaded by the new buildings, and there would be noise and pollution generated.

But Mr. Cuming said a redesign of the proposed blocks would overcome some of the objections and extra landscaping would soften the impact of the buildings.

New storage addition The Garden Market has been given permission to build a new storage addition onto the Middle Road shop.

The Development Applications Board granted approval for the add-on and the rebuilding of the existing retail storage area.

The market, formerly Howard's Mini-Mart, was sold to Manuel Mendoza in May 1995.

The addition will be used to create dry storage space, cold storage and freezer space in order to complete internal reorganising of the retail part of the store.

The Board did not expect any notable impact on the agricultural land on the site.

Boost for junior sailing The Mid-Atlantic Boat and Sports Club has been given the go-ahead to create a dock and breakwater facility for a junior sailing programme.

The project involves removing the existing sea wall and extending the existing car park toward the water.

Dredging of the bay is also proposed, although the Division of Fisheries will be consulted to minimise damage to protected species of coral in the area.

CHURCH CHU