Church Can Build a Social Hall

The Palos Verdes Estates City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a conditional-use permit that will allow the Neighborhood Church to build a social hall on its bluff-top property at Malaga Cove.

The decision marked the end of an acrimonious eight-year controversy between the church, a popular site for weddings and other social activities, and its neighbors, who said the addition would increase traffic and noise.

After numerous public hearings before the Planning Commission and the City Council, the neighbors, who banded together as the Malaga Cove Homeowners Assn., and the church agreed to a set of 21 conditions under which the permit was granted. Among other things, the conditions limit the church to two weddings on Saturdays and ban Sunday weddings.

James Dunn, chairman of the church building committee, told the council that plans for the 3,700 square-foot addition will be submitted for city approval by the end of the year.