Boulder City United Methodist Church Gets Green Light for New Home After 20 Years

For more than twenty years the congregation of Boulder City United Methodist Church has dreamed of a building they could call their own. That dream finally moved out of the imagination and onto the drawing board last month.

In a unanimous vote, the Boulder City Planning Commission granted the church a conditional‑use permit for a 7,200‑square‑foot sanctuary on the three‑acre lot it bought back in 2005. The parcel sits right beside the historic Boulder City Cemetery on Utah Street, a spot the church has owned since the city sold it for $195,000.

“We are incredibly grateful and excited that the planning commission has approved our Conditional Use Permit,” said lead pastor Kimber Govett in an email to the Boulder City Review. She added that the approval means the congregation can now start the building‑permit process – unless anyone files an appeal with the city council, in which case there would be a short detour.

In recent years, worship services and special events have been squeezed into the Elaine K. Smith Building, a space that, while functional, never quite felt like a true church home. “We have served this community for many years, and we look forward to finally building a traditional church on the property that was purchased for this purpose,” Govett wrote.

City planner Loren Keeton’s presentation outlined what the new development would include: the main worship building, off‑street parking for congregants, pedestrian walkways, landscaping, upgraded drainage, new lighting, utility hookups and other infrastructure needed for daily use.

The journey hasn’t been smooth. A conditional‑use permit was actually approved back in 2009, but a weak economy stalled any construction plans. Now, with the local economy more stable and the congregation’s resolve stronger than ever, the project looks set to finally break ground.

Neighbors and city officials have expressed support, noting the church’s long‑standing role in Boulder City’s social fabric. “We’re excited about what the future holds and are committed to being good neighbors,” Govett said, echoing the sentiment of many who have cheered the church’s perseverance.

If everything proceeds as expected, the next steps will involve submitting detailed building plans, securing the necessary permits and, eventually, breaking ground on what many hope will become a new landmark of faith in Boulder City.