Church officials submit expansion reduction

Alicia Robinson

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church officials have again reduced the

size of a planned expansion, this time to meet strictures set by the

city’s Planning Commission.

After almost two years of discussions with neighbors and the

Planning Commission and two previous size reductions, church

officials on Thursday submitted revised plans, showing facilities

expanded by only 21,714 square feet -- a reduction of almost 40% from

the original plan to add nearly 36,000 square feet.

The church wants to build a new youth and family center and a

parking garage and to refurbish the existing sanctuary and other

facilities. Continued clashes between the church and neighbors, who

said the project was too big and would exacerbate existing parking

and noise problems, led the Planning Commission to order the two

sides to talk it out.

The Planning Commission also directed the church to limit the

expansion to between 18,000 and 22,000 square feet.

“We found ways of nibbling away at [the size] a little bit in the

storage and circulation areas and also the fellowship hall,” said Ken

Williams, chairman of the church building committee. “It’s just a

constant belt tightening to work with the neighbors to get it down to

the size they’d like to see it.”

While neighbors would probably like to see the expansion reduced

even further, Williams said, the church has trimmed about as much as

it can without cutting into important program space.

The Planning Commission is expected to vote on the revised church

plans Nov. 18. In the meantime, the church has set itself the arduous

task of reaching an agreement with neighbors on when and how much

church facilities will be used.

But residents are still not sure they’re satisfied.

“The concern is there’s currently a problem [with noise and

traffic] today,” said Bruce Stuart, who lives in the Cliffhaven

neighborhood and has taken part in talks with the church. “If you add

more usage to it you may make it worse. It’s really a balancing act

in terms of what improvements do you get ... that may make that a

trade-off.”

Stuart said talks will continue on the church usage, and he’ll

reserve judgment on the new, smaller church plans until he’s seen

them.

“It’s a good step,” he said. “Is it enough of a step? That’s kind

of too early to tell.”

Planning Commission Chairman Larry Tucker said the commission will

likely approve an expansion in the 20,000-square-foot range if the

plans address some of the existing parking and traffic problems.

Commissioners hope the two sides can iron out their differences

before Nov. 18, Tucker said.

“If they can’t reach agreement themselves, then we’ll decide, and

that’s not the best way to handle this,” he said.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or by e-mail at

alicia.robinson@latimes.com.