BACKGROUND
Since 2018, The Father’s House OC (applicant) has been occupying the M3Live Event Center on Harbor Boulevard in Anaheim for meetings and services. Recently, theater operations were suspended at the Regal Edwards Brea West building, thus providing vacant auditorium seating. The Father’s House OC is proposing to occupy a portion of the existing theatre building to allow Sunday worship services, weekday worship services, small group gatherings, staff offices, and a recording studio used to record videos for online church services and church promotional videos. The Regal Edwards Brea East, while temporary closed due to Covid-19, is anticipated to open and operate once restrictions are lifted.
DISCUSSION
The applicant is proposing Sunday worship services to be held at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., with each service limited to no more than 299 attendees (Condition 4.h). Sunday worship services would take place in Theater 6. The lobby area would be used for greeting attendees. Tables, chairs, and video screens projecting announcements and video of the service would be placed in the lobby. Children’s programs would be offered during the Sunday services in Theaters 1 – 5. Staff and volunteers assisting with the worship services would work at the facility from approximately 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. In addition to Sunday services, the applicant would host one weekday worship service for approximately 150 attendees. Staff and volunteers assisting with the mid-week service would be onsite from approximately 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Father’s House OC would also host mid-week small group (15-20 people) gatherings, generally two to three times a week. Theaters not used in execution of regularly scheduled events would secured to prohibit occupancy. Staff for The Father’s House OC would maintain an administrative office at the facility with typical daily business hours.
The Brea Municipal Code specifies that theaters and churches shall provide one parking space for each three seats. Since the theater and the church have the same off-street parking requirement, and the church would occupy only a portion of the existing building, no additional parking would be required as part of this application. Parking for The Father’s House OC would be provided within the City owned and operated structure on South Brea Boulevard and West Ash Street. The downtown parking structure was constructed to meet the needs of downtown businesses, including entertainment, restaurant, and shopping destinations. Operationally, regularly scheduled activities at The Father’s House OC would occur when many of the other businesses are closed or not operating at peak capacity. The Father’s House OC would not be permitted to reserve parking spaces within the structure. Weekend services would be separated by a minimum of 30 minutes to help reduce congestion occurring with church attendees arriving and departing the parking structure.
The Brea Municipal Code requires that a parking study be prepared for any church with more than 300 fixed seats. The applicant has indicated church services will take place in Theater 6, which currently has 266 fixed seats. If the applicant wishes to increase the allowable capacity per service, an amendment to the CUP will be required. A parking study will be required as part of the amendment.
Zoning Analysis
Places of worship are permitted with a CUP in the MU-I Zone. The proposed use is compatible with the goals and objectives of the General Plan by maintaining a balance and mixture of land uses within the community. The application is consistent with the intention of the provisions of the MU-I zone and goal of the General Plan to provide areas for intense, mixed-use urban environments that offer opportunities for people to live, work, shop, and recreate without having to use their cars. All activities would be conducted indoors; therefore, no noise related impacts associated with the proposed use are anticipated.
A condition of approval (Condition 4.c) has been added to control the time limits of this interim use. This condition limits the church to a three year term from the effective date of approval. If the applicant wishes to extend the lease of the facility, the Community Development Director would have the ability extend the term of the CUP annually, not to exceed seven consecutive extensions for a total of ten years from the date of approval.
Conclusion
For the reasons discussed above, as well as the information attached to this report, the project conforms with all the requirements of the General Plan with all applicable requirements of state law, and the provisions of the City of Brea codes. Moreover, the proposed project is not anticipated have an adverse effect on the public, health, safety, or general welfare. Therefore, staff recommends approval of the project. |