HUNTINGTON BEACH : Church Seeks to Save Its Plan for New Site

A church that has been operating temporarily in a shopping center is planning to appeal to the City Council tonight to approve plans for a permanent building. The Planning Commission on Aug. 7 voted 6 to 1 against allowing the Huntington Beach Church of Religious Science a conditional-use permit for its proposed building on the northeast corner of Seacliff Office Park, immediately north of the Civic Center.

The church currently is operating from rented buildings in the nearby Seacliff Shopping Center, but its congregation has outgrown that space.

Residents in August urged the Planning Commission to reject the church’s request to build in the office park. The park adjoins Pacific Ranch, an area of new condominiums.

Pacific Ranch residents said they did not mind office buildings nearby, but they said they fear heavy traffic and noise, especially on weekends, from the church.

The church has asked for a continuance of the appeal for about two months, but Pacific Ranch residents have urged the City Council not to grant the delay and to scuttle the church’s building plans at tonight’s meeting.