P.V. Estates : City Limits Use of School

The City Council sought to reduce conflict between the Lunada Bay Christian Fellowship and its neighbors by imposing strict limits on the church’s use of the closed Margate Intermediate School.

Traffic and parking in connection with church activities have angered residents and the council, which said it is trying to head off a problem like that in Malaga Cove, where neighbors have spent six years fighting the Neighborhood Church’s plans to build a social hall.

The council decided to grant the Lunada Bay Fellowship a conditional-use permit to use Margate’s auditorium and nine classrooms. The permit limits the church’s use of the school to between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily for one year. Night use of two classrooms is limited to Monday through Thursday, and the school’s auditorium can be used only one night a month, for a youth meeting.

The church cannot perform more than two weddings a month, and only members and their immediate families may marry there. No receptions are permitted at the school. The church must furnish parking attendants at all church meetings and weddings.

Margate was closed in 1985 by the school district because of declining enrollment. The church is one of a dozen groups and individuals that rents space at the school.