Walnut : Church Appeals to Council
More than a dozen parishioners complained at a heated City Council meeting Wednesday about rejection of their church’s proposed design.
Chuck Richardson, a St. Lorenzo Catholic Church parishioner and former councilman, called for the resignation of all five Planning Commission members.
“They deliberately acted out of malice toward the church,” he said.
The Planning Commission rejected the church’s architectural plan in a 5-0 vote Jan. 20 after a turbulent seven-hour public hearing attended by 300 people.
The commissioners said the design, which detractors say resembles a “Star Wars” spaceship, is not compatible with the rural atmosphere of the community.
The church is asking council members to overturn the Planning Commission ruling at the City Council meeting March 10.
The church is proposing to build a 1,200-seat sanctuary and other facilities on the northeast corner of Lemon Avenue and Meadow Pass Road.
The congregation has been holding services in a rented warehouse in Walnut.
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