Boarding houses for Christian students prompt concern in newly developed neighborhood

Residents in a newly developed neighborhood are worried about a zoning proposal that would allow two homes to become boarding houses for students at nearby Lifestyle Christianity University, meaning that more than four adults would be living under one roof.

Laci Kelly Loya, who lives across the street from the two homes the Parkview neighborhood, said she built her home and moved to the neighborhood in August.

“We just knew there were a lot of cars parked up and down our streets with tags from different states. We didn’t know what was going on at first,” Loya said

The students who live in the houses attend Lifestyle Christianity University, a program founded by evangelist Todd White to train people how to spread Christ’s teachings. Lifestyle Christianity is on the site of the Harvest Church at 7200 Denton Highway. It is not accredited.

Representatives from Lifestyle Christianity could not be reached for comment.

The Watauga Planning and Zoning Commission will consider the request at 6 p.m. Tuesday at 7105 Whitley Road.

The homes are owned by Deborah Smith, of Glendale, Arizona. She said she purchased one home for her son who was attending Lifestyle Christianity University. Her son is back in Arizona, but Smith said she decided to purchase a second home for women, not realizing it was next door to the first house she bought.

Smith said she is not affiliated with Lifestyle Christianity, but follows its teachings and ministry.

“I wanted to help provide a place for students to live who were traveling around the country,” Smith said. “I created a home for them with a Christian environment. They would live in a unified environment with other likeminded people.”

Smith said she did not realize that the houses would be considered boarding houses under Watauga’s zoning requirements.

Smith said she doesn’t allow smoking, drinking or street drugs in her homes.

Smith asked if she should meet with the neighbors to discuss the zoning request.

This story was originally published April 1, 2019 at 5:24 PM.