SAN DIEGO — The mega-church project was denied 6-2 by the San Diego City Council after a four-hour long meeting, which packed council chambers with people both for and against the proposal.
“I’ve seen firsthand the faith-based community and its impact on hundreds of people. Hope, belonging, comfort, and support are all part of the culture of All Peoples,” said one supporter at the podium during public comment.
‘The applicant plans not one, but three Sunday services along with additional midweek events,” said Barbara Blakely as she addressed the council. “This pattern of usage would dramatically increase traffic projection, leading to a dangerous underestimation of congestion and safety.”
The All Peoples Church was looking to build a 900-seat church and parking structure on the 5.99-acre site along the east side of College Ave north of Interstate 8 in Del Cerro. The church currently has several locations in our area, including South Bay, Tijuana, and University Avenue.
“We just think a church is such an asset to a community, from the counseling that we offer for free to the help of people in need to the tutoring of students and the mentoring of young people,” said Pastor Robert Herber, who has led the church for the past 15 years. “We are really excited about what we believe is the perfect spot for our church.”
But others CBS 8 talked with opposed the project.
“It’s just too large, too intense for this particular property,” said Michael Livingston with Save Del Cerro.
Michael Livingston with Save Del Cerro does not believe the vacant land should be rezoned from residential.
“It’s a commercial business,” said Livingston. “They are trying to get a dedicated traffic signal for themselves on College Avenue, a major arterial through our neighborhoods going to San Diego State, just going to cause all kinds of difficulties.”
Among the top concerns mentioned during public comment was the impact to traffic on College Avenue.
“Now the traffic backs up all the way over a mile in the morning, said 22-year Del Cerro resident, Stephanie Macceca. “We simply cannot safely host this new church in that particular area.”
More than 200 people filled council chambers while the council considered the church’s proposal. Signs could be seen in the crowd dawning the phrase, “Save Del Cerro-No Mega Project”, while other people held signs in support of the project. A number of people from the church’s congregation came out to speak in support of the new church location.
“When I moved from Africa to America, they became a second home, this became my family, and they mentored me to who I am today,” said Erick Ibochwa.
Before the final vote to deny the project, council members called into question whether or not the traffic study gave an accurate representation of what the impacts would actually look like on College Avenue.
District 7 councilmember Raul Campillo, whose district covers the Del Cerro neighborhood, believed the traffic impacts were vastly underestimated, citing the use of an indoor basketball gym as being a source for more traffic to and from the site.
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