Church Seeks to Use House for Worship

Mar Shaleeta Parish/The Ancient Church of the East, an Orthodox congregation that separated from St. Mary’s Assyrian Church of North Hollywood, is seeking to convert a single-family home into a house of worship.

The property, currently in escrow for purchase by the church, is located at 15014 Plummer St. A public hearing will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at the Sherman Oaks Woman’s Club, 4808 Kester Ave.

The Mar Shaleeta Parish congregation numbers about 200, said Emmanuel Warda, parliamentarian on the board of directors of Mar Shaleeta Parish.

The church is asking for a conditional-use permit to convert the existing garage into a church sanctuary and related facilities. The 37,500-square-foot lot, located between Noble and Lemona avenues, is about 100 yards north of Plummer Elementary School.

Warda said the facility would be used primarily for Sunday services.

According to the request filed with the city’s Office of Zoning Administration by the Mar Shaleeta pastor, the Rev. Barkho Daoud, the church would remodel the detached garage on the property as a sanctuary to accommodate 78 people, and provide 30 on-site parking spaces. Later, the existing structures would be demolished and a new church sanctuary built with 54 parking places.

City Zoning Analyst Emmanuela Gutierrez, in her staff report, concluded that the church’s request is within the provisions of the municipal code. However, she recommended that the possible effects of the proposed use for the property “be carefully considered to forestall future problems that would put the city in an awkward position.”

According to city officials, Monday’s hearing is being held to hear testimony from area residents or property owners who might have concerns about the church’s plans.