Fountain Valley : City Rejects Appeal, OKs Site for Church

After listening to homeowners’ objections, the City Council has given its blessing to plans by the First Chinese Baptist Church to move to the site of a former Christian school.

“This is not a religious or ethnic issue--this is a land issue,” said Councilman John Collins, who added that the church’s request for a permit to operate on the site is in compliance with city codes.

The church plans to buy the four-acre site at 16835 Brookhurst St. and renovate buildings to accommodate a sanctuary, Bible studies and youth group meetings.

The church has been in Westminster for 16 1/2 years and has outgrown its current facilities on Hazard Avenue.

The council chamber was packed for the Tuesday hearing, and about 20 people spoke for and against the proposal.

After two hours of testimony, the council unanimously denied an appeal filed by one neighbor who sought to overturn a Planning Commission decision that allowed the church to operate at the site.

Some residents objected to the church moving to the vacant school site, saying it would lead to additional traffic and parking problems in the neighborhood.

To accommodate these concerns, the council set conditions on the permit that requires all church parking be on the property and restricts vehicles leaving the church to Brookhurst Street.

“We felt that we won because of those two major things,” said homeowner Ruth Gibb, who filed the appeal on behalf of other residents.

The church plans to build a new parking lot with 281 spaces and landscaping.

Gibb, along with other residents who spoke in opposition, said they are not against the church itself moving next door to them.

“What we were concerned with is the safety and welfare of our families,” Gibb said.

Pastor Murphy Lum expressed the congregation’s gratitude to the council.

“I’m thankful to God, to our fine neighbors and to the city for the opportunity for us to be neighbors and work together to better our community,” Lum said in a statement.