Mike Rider, from left, a church elder at Anthem Chapel, planner Steve Whelton and architect Michael Holliday address the Goleta Design Review Board about the proposed church development project.
Mike Rider, from left, a church elder at Anthem Chapel, planner Steve Whelton and architect Michael Holliday address the Goleta Design Review Board about the proposed church development project. Credit: Pricila Flores / Noozhawk photo

A proposed church in Goleta still has some work to do before it receives a blessing from the city’s Design Review Board.

Anthem Chapel went for a second conceptual review hearing before the board last week for a new church campus proposed for 6595 Covington Way.

While the board appreciated the spiritual inspiration behind the new designs, members had ongoing concerns about building height and impacts to the environment. They also wanted to see more cohesive architecture and design throughout the buildings. 

The project, proposed between Christ Lutheran Church and the parking lot for Stow House, would include a building for 500 people, a separate building housing youth worship areas, and a preschool and daycare classrooms for up to 110 children.

The site also would have a 117-space parking lot; the original proposal included 125 parking spaces. 

Board member Tamesha Schumacher said she was worried about the size as well as potential impacts to the neighboring monarch butterfly habitat. 

“I’m still very concerned about the size of it, and there’s conflicting information about your membership. I also know that you’re probably hoping for more growth in the future, so I’m concerned about how that will affect the parking, mainly, and that entire area,” Schumacher said.

She also wondered if the site had enough space for what the church hopes to create. 

At an August review hearing, board members said the designs lacked any spiritual inspiration. There also were concerns from neighbors about the size of the buildings, as well as the impact to parking and traffic in the area, and the environment. 

Since the initial hearing, developers reduced overall square footage by 10%, reduced the maximum height by 4 feet, split the building into two separate buildings, and worked to design landscaping that would complement existing open space.

Neighbor Sylvia King, addressing the Goleta Design Review Board about the proposed church project, says that during the COVID-19 pandemic, churchgoers blocked fire hydrants and driveways in the neighborhood, kicked doors and blared music.
Neighbor Sylvia King, addressing the Goleta Design Review Board about the proposed church project, says that during the COVID-19 pandemic, churchgoers blocked fire hydrants and driveways in the neighborhood, kicked doors and blared music. Credit: Pricila Flores / Noozhawk photo

The architecture went away from the agrarian aesthetic in the previous designs and embraced inspiration from local and nationwide churches, according to Mike Rider, a church elder at Anthem Chapel.

Between the two buildings, developers proposed an outdoor path leading to an open space area that’s against the environmentally sensitive habitat area buffer. 

The church also is requesting permission to reduce the buffer from 100 feet to 50 feet, but 14 new trees would be planted in the buffer area to improve the habitat and provide shade, according to the city staff report.

While the public and the board have raised concerns about the impact to the monarch habitat, Steve Whelton, a planner with the project, noted that the existing Goleta Valley Historical Society and Stow House parking lot are closer to the habitat than the church would be. 

Design Review Board member James van Order said he wanted to see more cohesive designs, noting that when comparing the back and front sides of the buildings, it looks like completely different buildings.

A view of the proposed Anthem Chapel buildings facing an environmentally sensitive habitat area buffer.
A view of the proposed Anthem Chapel buildings facing an environmentally sensitive habitat area buffer. Credit: Courtesy rendering

Board member Dennis Whelan said he appreciated the changes to the designs but thought the height of the youth and daycare building was too high, saying it was out of character with the neighborhood and proposed sanctuary. 

During public comment, neighbors did not comment on actual designs, but rather the concept of the church itself being built in the area, citing parking and environmental concerns. 

Board chair Scott Branch encouraged speakers to attend the eventual Planning Commission hearing, at which time the commission can make decisions on land use issues, while the DRB can comment only on design, architecture and landscape. 

Christian church Anthem Chapel currently meets at Goleta Valley Junior High School, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, it met outside on the project site, which was owned by Christ Lutheran Church.

During that time, Sylvia King said churchgoers blocked fire hydrants and driveways in the neighborhood, kicked doors, and she dealt with loud music blaring through her home on Sunday mornings.

A street view of the proposed Anthem Chapel project.
A street view of the proposed Anthem Chapel project. Credit: Courtesy rendering

“Our community absolutely needs spirituality, but spirituality doesn’t require exception from good neighbor obligations,” King said. “Houses of worship thrive in many settings. This particular site may simply not be appropriate for this scale of operation. Denying this application doesn’t diminish our community’s commitment to faith; it upholds standards that make our neighborhoods livable.”

Other neighbors worried that the 117-space parking lot was not enough for the church’s large congregation.

Lars Linton, executive pastor at Anthem Chapel, said church members need a permanent home, and the daycare, to support 110 children, will benefit young families. 

“Goleta needs a new place of worship that young families can come into and really enjoy and that imparts spiritual values to them that will influence the next generation,” Linton said. 

Since the pandemic, Anthem Chapel entered a lease option, meaning it has the deed for the property and is paying off the cost over time to Christ Lutheran Church. 

Christ Lutheran Church is expected to stay at the property in its existing building, even when the Anthem Chapel project is completed.

Anthem Chapel is set to return to the Design Review Board at a later date for a preliminary review hearing. At that time, board members can make a recommendation to the Planning Commission or continue to another review hearing if they’re not satisfied with the project. 

— Noozhawk staff writer Rebecca Caraway can be reached at rcaraway@noozhawk.com.