Church’s request for tent approved

Andrew Glazer

COSTA MESA -- A local church group will camp out on the West Side for

three years or until it finds a permanent home.

The Planning Commission on Monday approved Rock Harbor Church’s request

to construct a 7,000-square-foot tent on a lot on Monrovia Avenue owned

by Griswold Industries, a valve manufacturer.

“I’m really excited,” said Tony Petros, a member of the church, who

spearheaded the effort for the congregationof approximately 800 families

to find a home. “I’m very grateful to the commission.”

Commissioners and three neighbors -- in addition to the city’s planning

staff, which recommended rejecting the proposal -- expressed concerns

about church noise and the traffic problems that it might bring to the

neighborhood.

Although the city designated the land for industrial use, which has

looser noise requirements, the tent will be adjacent to the Playport

Mobile Village. The mobile home park has approximately 150 residential

units.

But church officials convinced the commission that its tent would keep

noise from its Sunday services inside. And they agreed to limit the hours

when church bands would play amplified music.

Rock Harbor will be required to abide by the same noise restrictions as a

residential neighborhood.

During negotiations with the commission about further noise restrictions,

Petros asked the commission not to go overboard. The church is

characterized by its musical, festive services.

“If you bind us in too tight, we won’t be able to carry out our mission,”

he said. “I hope we won’t be conditioned to the point where worship isn’t

fun anymore.”

Rock Harbor will sign a one-year lease with Griswold with an opportunity

to extend the lease for two more years.

The tent will include offices, a sanctuary and classrooms.

It will be the congregation’s first home. Rock Harbor has been holding

its Sunday services at the Costa Mesa Senior Center.

Petros said the church’s senior center facility has worked well for the

most part. But he said senior activities have occasionally conflicted

with Sunday church services.

“When we can’t pray on Sunday, we’re in direct contradiction of our call

from God to worship,” Petros said before the meeting.

The church showed evidence that the temporary facility would meet city

parking, height and size, in addition to sound requirements.

After the commission approved the tent, the more than 50 people from the

congregation who were at the meeting stood and applauded. Outside they

hugged one another and sung.

Petros said he hopes to get the tent up and running in 90 days.

Lead Pastor Keith Page said the tent will be a welcome, but nonessential

addition.

“I’m learning that a church is people, not a building,” he said. “Without

a building, you can still experience God, community, music and love.”