SAN CLEMENTE : Church to Redesign Steeple for Neighbors

In a compromise with neighbors, the First Baptist Church has agreed to change plans for a lighthouse-style steeple for its new church in order to protect the community’s view.

Under the agreement between the First Baptist Church and members of the Highland Light Homeowners Assn., the lighthouse will be built on lower ground in the church’s parking lot.

The dispute had threatened to pit the new neighbors against each other.

The City Council approved plans for construction of a 14,000-square-foot church and preschool last month but told church officials that they had to try to work out a compromise with surrounding neighbors who objected to plans for a 31-foot lighthouse that would be used as the church’s steeple.

The neighbors contended that the lighthouse-steeple would have obstructed their views and lowered their property values.

“We’re happy that we could work this out with the homeowners,” said Mike Fabarez, senior pastor of the church. “I think everyone is pleased with it.”

Fabarez said the lighthouse is crucial to the church’s design and added that the main reason the church is moving to the new location from 107 W. Marquita is in order to be more visible to the community.

“We are fully pleased with the detached lighthouse,” said Bob McKinley, president of the association. “Once the parties got together, everything worked out fine. It was just a matter of sitting down and getting together.”

Construction of the church is expected to begin next month at the corner of Via Sargo and Calle Frontera, Fabarez said.