Back in their own house
Jose Paul Corona
Congregants of Praise Christian Church have finally been given
permission by the Planning Commission to return to the sanctuary they
were booted out of last December, but Pastor Derek Annunciation still
isn’t happy with the final outcome.
“They’re just discriminating against the church,†Annunciation
said of the commission.
It is a familiar refrain, to those who have followed the church’s
struggles.
The Planning Commission issued the church a conditional use permit
last week that will allow parishioners to meet at the building at
Goldenwest Street and Ellis Avenue again, but only if they meet
certain conditions.
The commission is requiring that several improvements be made to
the building and that the church be soundproofed. It must also close
its south doors and windows to control noise, said Associate City
Planner Paul De Veiga.
The stipulations were made because the building is old and was
designed as a warehouse, not as a church, De Veiga said, adding that
making the building soundproof isn’t a difficult process.
“It could be as easy as putting in insulation and drywall,†he
said.
Church leaders have been fighting with city officials since late
December when they were told that they could not meet in the church
because it did not meet safety codes. They’ve been holding their
Sunday services outside of the building.
Annunciation says that the building is not unsafe, and insists it
meets the requirements of the uniform building code.
“If safety is their primary concern, then the building is safe,â€
he said.
Annunciation says the church is being singled out and that a
nearby school has not had to go through the same process.
“It’s just an unequal playing field,†he said, adding that the
church would file an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision
with the City Council.
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