Costa Mesa Bars Outdoor Shoots by Christian TV Network
The clash between Trinity Broadcasting Network and its residential neighbors stretched into the predawn hours Tuesday before the Costa Mesa City Council denied the world’s largest Christian television ministry permission to shoot its religious services outdoors.
A few sleepy-eyed residents hung on until well after midnight to plead their case against TBN, saying they had little faith in the station to be a good neighbor.
While the church argued that it has a legal right to hold outdoor services, the council reached a different conclusion: It’s annoying neighbors.
The council unanimously voted to reverse an earlier decision by the city’s Planning Commission to grant a conditional-use permit to shoot outdoors.
That permit was conditional on TBN spending nine months adhering to two dozen restrictions, including limiting the hours of its mammoth light display and getting tour buses out of surrounding neighborhoods. The station then appealed those restrictions to the City Council.
A TBN lawyer said that the station is not necessarily done with the issue.
Complaining residents were thrilled with the outcome.
“We’re hoping this means we’ll get more peace in our backyard and the noise will stop,” said Stacy Schofro.
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