Planning commission approves columbarium at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church with conditions

The Thousand Oaks Planning Commission voted 5-0 on Jan. 27 to approve Special Use Permit SUP2024-70015, allowing Holy Trinity Lutheran Church to install two prefabricated cylindrical columbarium structures inside an existing courtyard.

Assistant Planner Tabitha McAtee told the commission each structure is approximately 6 feet, 1 inch tall and 27 square feet in footprint, with each structure accommodating roughly 64 niches for funeral urns. The project site is located in the Rural Exclusive (RE) zone and columbarium structures in that zone require a special use permit when accessory to a place of worship.

Pastor Eric Gaynor, who identified himself as the applicant and as pastor at Holy Trinity, described the proposal as restoring an older church tradition of having final resting places adjacent to houses of worship and noted the city currently has no cemeteries inside its limits. Gaynor said the church raised more than $100,000 through a pre-sale campaign representing 19 households and reservations for additional inner niches.

The commission's approval incorporates findings and conditions in the staff report, including: limiting cumulative columbarium area to 600 square feet and individual structure height to 15 feet; requiring both structures to be initiated within three years of permit approval (staff defined "inauguration" as placing construction materials in their permanent position for the foundation); restricting floral displays to limited intervals with a 48-hour cleanup requirement; and requiring the applicant to name the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in conditions addressing transfer of remains should the religious facility cease operations.

McAtee said staff received one letter of support included in the packet and eight additional letters of support in a supplemental filing. Members of the public representing the Holy Trinity congregation spoke in favor during public comment, including Jim Wilbur, Susan Wilbur and Christopher Swanson, who cited accessibility for older congregants and continuity of religious practice.

Commissioners asked about capacity and future expansion. McAtee confirmed two structures at about 64 niches each would provide roughly 128 outer niches, while the applicant explained the chosen manufacturer's design includes a hollow inner area able to accommodate additional "soft" urns; the exact allocation of inner versus outer niches is determined by the church's operations. The applicant's team and staff confirmed the proposed materials, landscaping and a six-foot fence would limit visibility from the street.

The permit includes conditions of approval to ensure compliance with the municipal code and CEQA (staff determined the project categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines section 15303(e), new construction or conversion of small structures). The commission's motion incorporated the staff-proposed change to conditions 14 and 15 to reference the Southwest California Synod of the ELCA.

The Planning Commission noted that appeals of the decision may be filed with the Community Development Department within 10 days.