Planning Commission approves conditional use permit for Paradox Church at 601 Lawton Street

On July 22, 2025, the Redlands Planning Commission voted to adopt Resolution No. 1711, approving Conditional Use Permit No. 1199 to allow Paradox Church to occupy and renovate an existing commercial building at 601 Lawton Street and to construct modest site improvements.

Planning staff, Jasmine Serrato, said the project would convert a vacant 4,327-square-foot commercial building to a place of worship with a 132-square-foot addition, replacement of an existing approximately 897-square-foot west patio and a new approximately 362-square-foot east patio. The ground floor plan would include a main meeting hall, fellowship space, a cafe, offices, restrooms and two covered patios; a mezzanine would provide a media room and storage. The applicant proposes to provide 29 parking spaces; staff noted state law (identified in the record as Assembly Bill 2097) limits the city's ability to require parking for projects within a half-mile of a transit station and that the site is roughly 0.44 mile from a station. Staff also said the project proposes 6,751 square feet of landscaping (about 27% of the parking-lot/site area), exceeding the minimum 7% landscaping standard in the Redlands Municipal Code for parking areas.

Staff recommended approval, concluding the project is consistent with the Transit Village land-use designation and the Transit Villages Specific Plan (Village General/BG District), where places of worship are permitted with a conditional use permit. Staff further determined the project qualifies for an exemption from environmental review under the city's CEQA guidelines for existing facilities (staff cited Section 15,301).

Paradox Church representatives and neighbors spoke in support during the public hearing. Jasmine Bilbao, church life associate for Paradox Church, said, “We are one of three affirming churches in Redlands hoping to continue our ministry to the local communities, where God leads us.” Ken Scofield, a member of the church board of trustees, said the congregation has operated for nearly 10 years and favors adaptive reuse of the existing building: “We're looking to get our church home up and running... we're excited about the fact that we're able to reuse an existing building and not tear something down or rebuild.”

The Family Service Association of Redlands submitted an on-site representative, Corey Romo, program director, who said the organization supports Paradox Church’s use of the property and noted the church’s prior collaboration with Family Service Association on local programs. The commission also heard a neighborhood resident, Sergio Ramirez, who asked whether overnight parking by people living in vehicles on nearby streets could be addressed; staff indicated that enforcement and parking-permit questions are handled by other city departments and offered to provide contact information after the meeting. Staff reported the city received nine written comments in support of the project.

Commissioner Gonzales moved to adopt Resolution No. 1711 approving Conditional Use Permit No. 1199; Commissioner Smith seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote. Conditions of approval include operational limits to minimize neighborhood impacts, including a condition limiting hours of operation to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and compliance with applicable building and site improvement standards in the Transit Villages Specific Plan and the Redlands Municipal Code.

The approval allows Paradox Church to proceed with tenant improvements and the modest exterior work described in staff materials; any building permits and inspections required for construction and occupancy remain subject to standard plan check and permit processes.