St. Andrew’s considers options

Now that the Newport Beach City Council has approved a

smaller-than-requested expansion of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church,

the church’s leaders must decide whether to go through with their

plans.

The council voted to allow an expansion of 15,000 square feet,

less than the 21,741 square feet the church had requested. The church

hopes to build a youth and family center and a parking structure and

to remodel existing buildings. In addition to the size reduction, the

City Council also placed restrictions concerning parking and the

number of people allowed to attend events at the church.

Many members of the congregation are disappointed with the

council’s decision but say they are confident that the church’s

elected leaders, known as elders, will work within the parameters the

city has set. “We delegate the responsibility to our session [the

church’s governing body], so I’ll be happy to abide by whatever they

think is the right thing to do,” said Jim Hamilton, of Laguna Beach.

Because the approved square footage is so much smaller than the

church’s original plan -- before scaling down to 21,741 square feet

in an attempt to quell neighbors’ concerns, the church had hoped to

add 35,948 square feet to its existing 104,000 square feet of space

-- the St. Andrew’s building committee will have to come up with a

cost-effective plan that fits within City Council’s limitations. The

building committee will then present its case to the church’s elders,

who will make the final decision.

“I think, in all honesty, there was disappointment that the square

footage was limited,” said Debbie Schulze, one of the 21 church

elders. “But we were pleased that it was approved. I still have a

very positive feeling that it will go through.”

She said it’s been a long process, with a great deal of debate for

more than two years between the church and residents of the

neighboring communities of Cliff Haven and Newport Heights.

Many of the neighbors opposed the expansion, saying it would

increase noise, traffic and parking problems in the neighborhood.

Schulze said she thinks the church has tried hard to be a good

neighbor by listening to the residents’ concerns and by scaling down

its original proposal to 21,741 square feet.

Doug and Bev Clark of Newport Beach said they’re disappointed with

the council’s decision and hope that the church will still be able to

go through with its plan of adding a family and youth center.

“I think the church has a really big decision to make,” Doug Clark

said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be cost-effective for them to

work with what they have. I don’t know if it’s going to happen, which

is a shame.”

Carol Riedesel of Huntington Beach said she thinks the church

should go through with the approved expansion.

“I think there’s a great need here,” Riedesel said. “The young

people need a place to go. It’s the Lord’s will. Whatever he wants,

we’re in his hands.”

Karen Odell of Corona del Mar said the church’s facilities need

updating. She has two young children and thinks the family and youth

center is needed.

Bill Hover of Costa Mesa, one of the elected church elders, said

the church’s objectives with the proposal were to reach out to youth.

He said he is not sure whether they will be able to do that with the

restrictions set by the City Council.

“That’s why we have the team that we have,” he said of the

building committee and its consultants. “The team is charged with

being very sensitive to the community and coming up with a plan.”

He added that it’s a relief finally to have parameters to work

within.

“It’s a blessing to us because now we know.”

* LINDSAY SANDHAM is the news assistant. She can be reached at

(714) 966-4625 or lindsay.sandham@latimes.com.