ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, CA (August 28, 2006) – Rolling Hills Covenant Church has filed its third proposal with the city to redevelop its property in what has become a long-running tussle.
\n
\nThe city has twice rejected proposals after concluding the plans did not meet current ordinances. The church is one of the largest in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. Some residents of the upscale neighborhood have complained that the changes would not fit the general character of the community.<\/p>\n
The church began its expansion plans 10 years ago. The latest proposal is considerably scaled back from what the church initially wanted.<\/p>\n
The first plan called for a 73,000-square-foot building with a 2,500-seat auditorium and a basement devoted to children\u2019s ministry. The existing building would be converted so that it could be used for community activities.After that plan drew opposition, the church scaled back its plans several times to 2,250 seats and then to 1,650 seats. The latest proposal would reduce the sanctuary seating capacity to 1,500 seats in a 20,000-square-foot building.<\/p>\n
Parking has been a major obstacle to approval. The church originally planned a five-level parking structure to be built partially underground that would provide spaces for 500 vehicles. Officials ruled the plan violated ordinances limiting the amount of the building lot surface that a structure can cover. The church then proposed an underground parking facility that would be covered with landscaping. It still would have spaces for 500 cars “because it would have a larger footprint,” Best says. The planning commission rejected that proposal as well because the ordinance counts even garages located underground as surface lot coverage.<\/p>\n
The commission did unanimously recommend, however, that the City Council consider an exemption for underground parking facilities. The new plan includes building a three-level garage on the north campus.<\/p>\n