GARDEN GROVE : Protests Delay Stricter Parking Ordinance

A proposed parking ordinance that local church leaders say is too restrictive has been sent back to the Planning Commission for further study.

The City Council tentatively approved the ordinance March 7 but decided to postpone final approval after about 40 people showed up at Tuesday’s council meeting to protest the stricter parking restrictions on churches.

Under the ordinance, churches must provide one parking space for every two church occupants and one space per 250 square feet of ancillary area, such as community meeting rooms.

Currently, the requirement is one parking spot for every three church occupants.

“This would kill anybody’s future building plans,” said Donald Brown, an architect designing a 10,000-square-foot addition to the King of Kings Lutheran Church’s facility on Newhope Street and Trask Avenue.

Brown said the city should either maintain the current standards or relax them a little bit to require one parking space for every four occupants.

“We don’t want to go overboard, but we don’t want to lose our rights (to expand) either,” Brown said.

The parking ordinance, based on a parking study conducted by a consultant last year, provides standards for a variety of sites, including adult-related businesses, schools, recreational facilities and gas stations.

City officials have temporarily halted issuing permits for land uses that require extensive parking until adoption of a parking ordinance.

The study was completed in November and submitted to the city the following month. In January, the Planning Commission recommended approval of a parking ordinance based on the study.

If the council eventually gives the ordinance final approval, it will apply to new construction and significant additions to existing buildings, officials said.