Getting the Facts on Church’s Plan in Palomar Area

I resent the following examples of slanted and biased writing in your report of Calvary Chapel’s proposed Conference Center near Palomar Mountain (Aug. 25).

The article says Calvary wants to develop the site “for as many as 679 guests and staff members at a time,” implying congestion. That number of people on 560 acres is a very low occupancy rate. But that number is inflated. Plans for the proposed center, available at various public hearings, show a capacity of no more than 500 guests with approximately 40-50 permanent and seasonal employees. 550 capacity, not 679.

You refer to the previous submission of the proposed project as “when it was first pitched two years ago.” The slang verb “pitch” is always related to “pitch man.” Don’t try to relate Calvary Chapel or the majority of Christian churches to recent “con men” who fell from pulpits.

Your article mentions “kitchens,” and “suites” for adults. There is only one kitchen, and only one-room units of the motel type for adults.

The article describes “a 560-acre retreat and conference center” as if the whole 560 acres is to be developed. Actually, the amount of land covered by development is an infinitesimal part of the 560 acres. More than 90% of the site will be untouched and preserved in its natural state.

One paragraph says that Caltech officials “are concerned that the project would sour the sky with a wash of light that would compromise their night work.” That phrase is a classic propaganda technique that misleads the reader into believing that the facility would seriously hamper the scientific work of the famous 200-inch telescope at Palomar Observatory.

The truth is that when this project was first envisioned by Calvary’s pastor, Chuck Smith, he met with two representatives from Caltech and assured them that all buildings would be equipped with blackout curtains; there would positively be no lighting of athletic fields or pools, and there would be no exterior lighting at all after “lights out” at 10 p.m., other than any required safety lighting of a few paths. The paths would be lighted with low-voltage down lighting of the type whose photometric characteristics would not affect the observatory’s photographic work located 4 or 5 miles away, and which, incidentally, doesn’t begin until after midnight.

Pastor Smith invited Caltech officials to inspect and monitor the completed project and promised to correct any possible lighting problems they may find.

The facility will be used not only by Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, but also by many churches in San Diego County that have to bus their young people many miles to the San Bernardino Mountains or the Sierras for anything comparable.

Instead of misinforming and misleading the public, why don’t you investigate the other side of this and report the facts?

H. HUGH WYNNE

Tustin