A California metropolis has agreed to permit a megachurch to construct a brand new constructing for its rising congregation, reversing an earlier resolution opposing the development venture.
The San Diego Metropolis Council voted 5-4 final Tuesday to permit All Peoples Church to assemble a brand new 900-seat constructing with 300 parking areas and lecture rooms on the property.
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who voted in favor of the proposal, mentioned a lawsuit filed in opposition to town by the church was a consider his resolution to help the venture.
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“Whereas it might appear to be no huge deal to say we are going to battle this to the ends of the Earth, there are actual prices related to that,” mentioned Elo-Rivera, in accordance with CBS 8. “I can’t in good religion say that we should always battle this to the ends of the Earth after I don’t suppose that we are going to succeed.”
Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, who voted in opposition to the proposal, believed that the property, which was initially zoned for residential buildings, ought to be solely used for housing.
“Utilizing residentially zoned land to construct a venture that has no housing, my view, is irresponsible below the present situations that we face in our metropolis,” mentioned Whitburn, as quoted by CBS 8.
All Peoples Church was seeking to develop property it owns in Del Cerro, a neighborhood situated in japanese San Diego, to function a brand new church dwelling. They known as the endeavor “The Mild Venture.”
In January of 2024, town council voted 6-2 to reject the church’s software to show the property right into a worship facility after listening to hours of public feedback for and in opposition to it.
“It’s simply too massive, too intense for this specific property,” mentioned Michael Livingston with the group Save Del Cerro on the assembly final yr, as quoted by CBS 8. “They’re making an attempt to get a devoted site visitors sign for themselves on School Avenue, a significant arterial by our neighborhoods going to San Diego State, [it’s] simply going to trigger all types of difficulties.”
In response to the rejection, the church filed a lawsuit in opposition to metropolis officers in March of final yr, accusing San Diego of partaking in spiritual discrimination in opposition to the congregation.
In line with church officers, they’d already acquired approval from town’s planning fee the yr earlier than, which counseled their proposal and structure.
The church claimed that some members of the neighborhood had engaged in an intimidation marketing campaign that misrepresented the precise affect of the constructing venture.
“The regulation is evident, town can’t discriminate in opposition to a non secular use utilizing totally different guidelines and evaluation from a non-religious venture in the same scenario,” mentioned Dan Dalton, a lawyer for the church, in an announcement launched final yr.
“Federal regulation protects church buildings from the abuse of presidency in creating totally different requirements for a non secular facility, which is what the council did in justifying its movement to disclaim the All Peoples Church Mild Venture.”
