Approval to build a lighted football field and concession building on church property south of Lawrence was delayed Monday by the Douglas County Commission.

Commissioners said they wanted to make sure the site at Forest View Ministries, 1470 N. 1000 Road, is used only for church-related religious events and not to generate revenue. They said they thought a revenue-generating site would require rezoning because the property is zoned for agricultural use.

First Church of the Nazarene owns the property, which covers 91 acres. The football field would be used by Veritas Christian School, a nondenominational church school at 256 N. Mich.

The school wouldn’t pay the church for use of the field, representatives said. No one from the church was present at the commission meeting.

“We shouldn’t assume what their intent is, and they shouldn’t assume that we know what their intent is,” County Commission Chairman Bob Johnson said, referring to the church.

Commissioners directed Sandra Day, a planner in the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Department, to craft a statement to go with the site plan that sets a condition that the field and related developments be for church-related religious use only.

In 1999, the County Commission approved a site plan presented by the church. But the latest proposal has some differences, such as placement of the field and certain amenities.

The building that houses the concession stand would include a press box and locker room. There also would be seating for 100 to 150 spectators.

In other business, commissioners approved a 3.5 percent cost of living pay increase for county employees. Last summer while preparing the 2007 county budget, commissioners set the pay increase at 3 percent.

Commissioners granted the latest increase after learning the Consumer Price Index for the Kansas City area showed the cost of food alone had increased 3.7 percent.