City Reverses Vote And Greenlights Huge Megachurch Project
A California city has reversed its prior decision and granted approval for All Peoples Church to build a new facility for its growing congregation. The San Diego City Council voted 5-4 in favor of the project, which will include a 900-seat worship center, 300 parking spaces, and classrooms. The approval came after the church filed a lawsuit against the city, accusing it of religious discrimination following a previous rejection.
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who voted for the project, cited the potential financial burden of continuing to oppose the church’s plan as a key factor in his decision. He expressed concern about the costs associated with ongoing litigation, which influenced his support. On the other hand, Councilmember Stephen Whitburn opposed the project, arguing that the land, originally zoned for residential use, should be reserved for housing development due to the city’s housing crisis.
The church’s plan, known as “The Light Project,” aims to develop property it owns in the Del Cerro neighborhood of eastern San Diego. In January 2024, the city council initially rejected the proposal, citing concerns from residents about the size of the project and its potential impact on traffic in the area. Critics, including a neighborhood group, argued that the facility was too large and would create significant challenges on local roads.
In response to the rejection, All Peoples Church filed a lawsuit in March, accusing the city of discriminating against the congregation based on its religious nature. The church argued that it had previously received approval from the city’s planning commission and claimed that opponents had misrepresented the project’s impact.
The church’s attorney, Dan Dalton, emphasized that federal law protects religious institutions from discriminatory treatment by the government. He argued that the city council had applied different standards to the church’s project compared to non-religious developments, prompting the legal action that ultimately led to the reversal of the decision.