Community Corner
Churches Just Want to Be Seen
South Coast Christian Assembly asks for new signage. The pastor says the church gets lost in all the nearby offices.
In a town full of notable church buildings – witness the historic Mission Basilica or quaint Calvary Chapel across from the Mission – South Coast Christian Assembly Church feels lost in an office park.
“Even though we have a large building, many people don’t know a church is there,” said Pastor Tom Westerfield, who’s been with South Coast for a year. “The church sits in an office area … so when you drive down the street you don’t even realize it’s there.”
Westerfield came before the San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission to ask for a bigger wall sign oriented toward the freeway.
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“The record will show I’ve not really been a proponent of freeway signage,” said Commissioner Tim Neely. “I’m still not sure why the church needs to advertise. They enjoy the advantage of having freeway exposure. But the City Council has made it clear that they want us to be more tolerant of these types of applications.”
Member Evan Chaffee said fellow commissioners should want to encourage houses of worship.
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The church got its new signage on a unanimous vote.
In other business, the Planning Commission approved a 72-foot tall AT&T cell tower for the JF Shea Center. A faux Eucalyptus tree will screen it, along with four trees. Commissioners noted that it will be most visible to visitors to the Shea Center and the city’s open space.
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