Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-03-05-032 — IGLESIA DE DIOS SHEKINA/Continued to 6/5/03

Request: Special Exception in R-1A (single family-7,500 sq. ft. lots) zone for religious use facility and Variance for unpaved parking in lieu of paved.

Decision: Denied

Hearing: The BZA continued this public hearing from last month so the individual BZA members could visit the area to gain a clearer picture on the nature and character of the area. Further, the BZA directed the applicant host another community meeting. The second community meeting was held. Staff was present, along with the applicant and church members. The meeting was heavily attended by residents of the Taft community and T.A.F.T. (Take Action For Taft). The residents opposed the request. Their primary concern that the residential area of Taft has been inundated with non-residential uses, including churches, and that more approvals for such uses would take away from what little residential they have left. They stated that an approval of this request is inconsistent with efforts they have taken to upgrade the community in partnership with Orange County, citing the TCI (Targeted Community Initiative) and Taft Preservation District. Additional concerns were that this church would not serve their community in that all but one of the church's families reside in Taft, and that the property is located entirely within a residential neighborhood and not close to a major intersection. The BZA felt the proposed use was not compatible with the nature and character of the residential area and therefore denied the request.