Goleta planning commissioners voted to deny the Anthem Chapel project Monday night, concerned about the size of the buildings and parking impacts on the neighborhood near Lake Los Carneros.

The commissioners had considered the project at the June 22 meeting and asked staff to bring back findings for denial.

The Anthem Chapel applicant team conducted a traffic and parking management plan in the meantime, but commissioners ultimately said they had too many concerns to approve the project.

Anthem Chapel proposes building a Christian church and daycare/preschool facility at 6595 Covington Way, next to Christ Lutheran Church and near Rancho La Patera and Stow House and Lake Los Carneros. 

It currently holds church services at Goleta Valley Junior High School.

The proposed plans include a 6,512-square-foot sanctuary/community assembly building and a two-story, 13,554-square-foot education building for the daycare and preschool. There would be 117 parking spaces.

Pastor Mike Ryder said Anthem Chapel has searched for its permanent home for years and has reached out to many local churches about sharing or buying property.

“If there’s a better option, we would probably take it — even now. The problem is there’s no better option, and that’s why we’re still here,” Ryder told the Planning Commission.

Commissioners and site neighbors have voiced concerns about the size of the buildings and insufficient parking for the growing congregation.

Applicant agent Steve Welton said the church would implement parking monitors, encourage carpooling to services and, if necessary, provide off-site parking with shuttles.

Commissioner Jennifer Fullerton said she couldn’t support the project and noted that even Ryder mentioned Anthem Chapel would prefer another option.

“So it seems like you’re kind of settling here and admitting that this is not the best place to put it,” she said. “Parking to me is the biggest issue. These are really large buildings, and I can’t imagine they’re not going to be used.”

The commissioners voted 3-1 to deny the Anthem Chapel project at Monday’s meeting. They also voted to approve amendments to the Christ Lutheran Church parcel, following their parcel map approval in June.

Commissioners Fullteron, Anne Miller and Rita Serotkin voted to deny the project, and Katie Maynard opposed that motion.

Commissioner Cary Penniman recused himself from the meeting on this item.

“It’s so many what-ifs,” Miller said.

She thanked the applicants for coming up with the traffic and parking plan, and other ideas, but reiterated that she doesn’t think it’s the right place for this project.

Serotkin said she was troubled by the size of the buildings and thought the traffic impacts were being minimized.

Maynard said the project is consistent with city guidelines, although that made her want to revisit the city’s zoning ordinance for future projects.

“It’s important that we can be true to what we already said,” she said during deliberations.

Neighborhood residents said the proposed buildings are “huge” and were concerned that parking and traffic issues would threaten public access to nearby Lake Los Carneros and Rancho La Patera and Stow House.

Los Carneros Road is also an important evacuation route in case of wildfires or other emergencies, they said during public comment. 

One resident spoke in favor of the project. She said she would rather have a coordinated plan for parking than the existing dirt lot.

Project applicants can appeal the decision to the Goleta City Council.