GARDEN GROVE : Parking Ordinance Set for Final OK

An ordinance that would set stricter parking requirements for restaurants, recreational facilities, gas stations, schools and adult-oriented businesses will go before the City Council for final approval today.

But the ordinance will not include a provision on church parking, which local church leaders have said would prevent churches from expanding.

There are more than 60 churches in the city, and several are planning expansions this year, according to Douglas Johnstone, pastor of the St. Paul Lutheran Church.

More public comment will be sought before the church parking requirement is integrated into the ordinance, officials said.

If approved, the ordinance would apply to new construction and significant additions to existing buildings. Tentatively approved by the council March 7, it is based on a study conducted last year by a consultant, O’Rourke Engineering, and is intended to clarify some of the confusing aspects of current parking regulations, officials said.

It also sets parking standards for cabarets, massage parlors, video arcades, karaoke studios, night clubs and skating rinks, which are not covered by existing requirements.

The parking ordinance would ensure that businesses and other establishments provide sufficient parking to minimize traffic congestion and promote public safety, officials said.

The city has temporarily stopped issuing use permits for restaurants and other businesses that require extensive parking until completion of the study and adoption of an ordinance. The moratorium would be lifted if the council adopts the ordinance.