NEWPORT BEACH : Church Sign Requests Prompt Policy Study

It hasn’t been hard for members of the Second Church of Christ, Scientist to find God. But finding the church itself has been another matter.

The church’s lectures, classes and events draw visitors from all over the world who often get lost in looking for the facility, even though the church has been on Pacific View Drive for two decades.

“Pacific View is not the easiest street to find,” said church clerk Mavis Cackowski. “It’s a short street and a lot of people don’t know where it is.”

Consequently, the Second Church of Christ, Scientist has joined other local churches in asking the city for permission to post signs to direct people to their out-of-the-way locations. The many requests have forced the city to consider drafting a policy regulating signs for churches, schools, museums and other nonprofit organizations.

But city officials are caught in a dilemma between their desire to help the local groups and a fear of “sign pollution.”

After Christian Science officials asked to post signs on Jamboree Road, San Miguel and Pacific View Drives, the city’s traffic affairs committee asked the council to adopt a policy that would only allow public, nonprofit facilities with more than 5,000 annual visitors to post signs.

The traffic committee had found that allowing each church and club to post signs would clutter the city. Furthermore, said city traffic engineer Rich Edmonston, the signs were unnecessary since the facilities are primarily visited by regular members and guests who know how to get there.

In the past, Edmonston said, the city has allowed directional signs for Pacific View Memorial Park, because “it’s tucked away,” and for the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, the Newport Beach Nautical Museum and local community college classes held at elementary school sites, among others.

But in recent months, the number of requests from churches has increased, causing city officials to fear an onslaught of signs.

The desired sign size has also increased, Edmonston said. While churches in the past posted fairly small, unobtrusive markers, recent requests have involved signs several feet in length and height, he said.

City Atty. Robert Burnham expressed some concerns that the traffic committee’s proposed policy singles out churches. He said the city cannot legally regulate signs based on the kind of organization applying for permission to post them.

Burnham and traffic officials are working on a new sign a policy to present to the City Council for its review.