BACKGROUND
In 2010, Calvary Community Church of Brea received  approval of a Conditional Use Permit allowing the establishment of a church occupying an existing 47,000 square foot office building in the C-P (PD) Administrative and Professional Office (Precise Development) Zone. The church is currently operating under the approval of this Conditional Use Permit (CUP 10-15), with a 2,645 square foot sanctuary space located along the north side of the building. The previous approval included a sanctuary expansion to accommodate seating for 470 attendees located on the south side of the building (See Figure 2).
The church did not initiate the second phase of their original plan. The current request would allow for additional sanctuary space but proposes an alternative location on the property. The new location will include the addition of 8,514 square feet on the north east corner of the building (Exhibit B – Floor Plans) The proposed addition will allow seating for up to 500 people and will be for the purpose of a sanctuary space and multipurpose activities outside of the normal services. The current sanctuary space will be maintained and will accommodate seating for 114 people and used to provide space for the Chinese language congregation. The proposed addition will increase the allowable number of seats approved in 2010 from 470 to 614.
DISCUSSION
OPERATIONS AND FLOOR PLAN
All operations and the configuration for the church will remain consistent with the original approval. The current sanctuary space (under Phase I) is proposed to be used as the Chinese Ministry area which has an average of 70 adults in attendance. The space shown on the 2010 plans identified as sanctuary space under Phase II will continue to be used as storage and to accommodate youth meetings (See Figure 3 – Proposed Floor Plan). Condition H and I have been included to require the applicant to submit changes to any uses of the buildings for the review and approval by the City Planner to ensure compatibility, occupancy and adequate parking is available.
There are currently two Sunday Morning Services (see Figure 4 – Peak Day Operations); one at 8:15 am with an average attendance of 145 individuals (including the Chinese language congregation) and 27 children in Sunday school, and one at 10:45 am with an average attendance of 160 individuals (including the Chinese language congregation) and 57 children in Sunday school. At 9:45 AM on Sundays, there are Life Groups with an average of 86 adults, 40 youth, and 60 children. There are various smaller events that are regularly scheduled throughout the week, such as Youth Groups, Bible Study, and Worship Team practices which can be found in the Project Description (Exhibit A). The new sanctuary space is proposed to seat a maximum of 500 attendees. The second congregation area is proposed to seat a maximum of 114 attendees. Staff has included Condition C to ensure the maximum number of seats in both areas does not exceed 614 in total.
PARKING
Today there are 199 parking spaces on site. As proposed the site will have 12 parking spaces eliminated resulting in 187 parking spaces on site. The peak day with the highest parking demand is Sunday during morning services. The required parking ratio is 1 stall for every 2 seats or 307 parking stalls. The Code permits churches to utilize off-site parking within 1,000 feet of the property line. Through a reciprocal parking agreement with 601 South Valencia, the applicant will have access to 150 stalls (See Exhibit B – Site Utilization Map, Exhibit C – Letter of Intent). This will result in a total of 337 parking spaces, providing a surplus of 30 parking spaces (See Figure 5 – Parking Table).
To ensure parking is adequate at all times, Staff has included Condition E which requires the applicant to provide a copy of the parking agreement prior to the issuance of any building permits and Condition F requiring the applicant to remedy parking impacts, should they occur, with any necessary modifications to scheduling and attendance of weekly events. Should the parking agreement terminate at any point, Condition E requires the applicant to secure sufficient parking for peak times prior to the commencement of any church services.
PRECISE DEVELOPMENT
The request is to add 8,514 square feet to the north east corner of the existing building. The development has been reviewed by staff and complies with all development standards required in the C-P Administrative and Professional Office Zone including setbacks, building heights, and gross floor area ratio. The proposed materials are comprised of BASF Stucco System, Orco concrete masonry units, Vitro tinted glass, and Centra metal paneling (See color and material elevations found in Exhibit B).
The colors and finishes are complimentary to the existing structure and adjacent buildings while the design meets the needs of the current use. The proposed entryway will be shaded by a mesh canopy to soften the transition from the exterior to the interior environment. The building design utilizes parapets varying in height as well as contrasting materials facing Valencia Avenue to ensure the massing of the building is not overwhelming to the public view while still keeping with the architecture of the surrounding neighborhood. To ensure the material finishes on the building remain high in quality, staff has included Condition N requiring any modifications to the approved plans, including colors and materials, be reviewed and approved by the City Planner. Any significant changes to the plans shall require review and approval by the Planning Commission. To ensure the building will comply with all applicable building and fire codes, staff has included Conditions L and S requiring plans be submitted to the Building and Safety Division and Fire Department for review and approval.
The proposed project is in accordance with City standards and guidelines to accommodate the proposed use. Staff anticipates the church can operate harmoniously with the adjacent uses and with minimal impact to its neighbors. |