Religious Education Trailer Denied Site

Saying that traffic safety would be jeopardized, the City Council has rejected a Christian education group’s request to put a trailer on Featherhill Drive.

The City Council voted unanimously at its March 28 meeting to reject the request.

“This is definitely not a religious issue,” Councilman Bob Bell said. “It’s a safety issue and property rights issue.”

The Released Time Christian Education program, based in Orange, had asked the council to allow it to relocate its education trailer to the Featherhill Drive site. Valerie Via, a teacher and coordinator for the program, said that for several years the trailer has been parked near Serrano Elementary School, 17741 Serrano Ave. The trailer is referred to as a “chapel on wheels.”

“Due to increased traffic congestion of parents driving students to and from school and concern for student safety, the chapel must be moved,” Via said.

The Released Time program allows parents to permit their children to take some Christian instruction in the trailer, off campus. Orange Unified School District has authorized the program for 42 years, Via said.

Several residents of the Featherhill Drive area appeared at the City Council meeting to protest the proposed relocation of the trailer. They contended that the trailer would be a traffic hazard.

The council agreed with the residents and turned down Via’s request. Council members suggested that the Christian education officials seek another location.