Coral Springs church on Riverside Drive seeks city approval for new building and expanded preschool as campus outgrows space
Coral Springs, Florida – A Coral Springs church is asking the city for permission to expand its Riverside Drive campus, saying its existing facilities can no longer keep up with the number of people using the property.
The Episcopal Church of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Martin is scheduled to appear before the city’s Administrative Zoning Review Committee at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 26. The church is seeking approval for a proposed $2.7 million project at 1400-1416 Riverside Drive that would add a new building and expand its preschool.
The property sits in Ramblewood South, an area primarily zoned for apartments and homes. Churches and preschools are allowed to operate in the area under city regulations, but projects involving those uses require case-by-case approval.
The upcoming zoning review will determine whether the church can move forward with its plans.
According to plans filed with the city, the proposed changes would add a building along the Riverside Drive side of the property. Two additional structures would be attached to existing buildings, while parking would remain concentrated along the north and east sides of the campus.
A sign is also planned near the entrance. The church’s existing bell tower, which stands toward the front of the property, would remain in place.
The expansion would add about 10,000 square feet to the campus and substantially change how some of the existing facilities are used. The project includes an expanded preschool designed to accommodate more children, along with a larger main hall.
Other planned additions include a commercial kitchen, a chapel and an administrative wing with conference rooms.
Rev. Lee Davis, who has served as rector since 2019, previously described the project as a response to the church’s growing needs.
“We’ve outgrown our current space,” Davis said.
The proposed design would also change the way visitors enter the campus. Instead of using the current front entrance, visitors would enter through the administrative building. That structure would wrap around a courtyard located near the preschool.
The church’s campus is used for more than Sunday services. Several community groups hold meetings there, including Gamblers Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous and the Coral Springs Quilting Guild.
That mix of activities has added to the demand for space, according to church officials. The campus is also connected to hundreds of families, with about 500 families associated with the church and 32 preschool students currently using the site.
The planned preschool expansion would allow the church to serve more children while the other improvements would create additional space for church programs, administrative work and community activities.
Davis has said the church has the money needed for the project through a combination of grants, donations and planning efforts. Construction was expected to begin in 2026 if the necessary approvals are obtained.
“These renovations will allow us to expand our ministries and outreach efforts,” Davis said. “It’s a sign of our growth and our commitment to making this community a better place.”
The request now moves to the Administrative Zoning Review Committee, where the details of the proposal will be considered under Coral Springs’ zoning rules.
For nearby residents, the project could bring a larger church and preschool operation to a property located within a neighborhood surrounded by residential uses. The city review process gives officials an opportunity to consider the proposed changes before construction can proceed.
The project would retain much of the existing campus while adding new space and reorganizing the layout. The plans include new construction, attached additions, parking areas and changes to the main entrance, but the existing bell tower would remain a recognizable feature along Riverside Drive.
The Aug. 26 meeting is open to the public, giving residents and other interested parties an opportunity to attend as the committee considers the church’s request.
If approved, the $2.7 million project would mark a significant expansion of the Riverside Drive campus, providing additional room for the preschool, church activities and community groups that use the property.
For the church, however, the request is rooted in a straightforward problem — there is not enough room for the growing number of people and programs already connected to the campus. The zoning decision will determine whether those plans can move forward.
