Planning commission approves Grace Fellowship Church at Red Hill with condition clarifying indoor 'nonconditioned' play area

The Costa Mesa Planning Commission on Jan. 26 approved a conditional use permit allowing Grace Fellowship Church to convert two office buildings at 3146 and 3152 Red Hill Avenue into a church campus, voting 6–0 after adding a clarification to permit language.

Staff told commissioners the project would convert two existing two‑story office buildings on 1.3‑acre parcels into a church facility with interior remodeling and minor additions for elevators and equipment. The primary sanctuary, at 3146 Red Hill, would be roughly 6,100 square feet of non‑fixed seating; the adjacent building would house classrooms, a kitchen and multipurpose space. The applicant said services would be held Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and weekday hours would support office and group gatherings. Staff recommended the commission find the project categorically exempt under CEQA (Class 1) and approve PCUP‑25‑0014 subject to conditions.

Commissioners asked technical questions about site access, the proposed covered play area and whether daycare or primary‑school uses would be allowed. Assistant planner Jeffrey Raimondo and applicant architect Anthony Massaro said removing storefront windows would create an unconditioned, covered porch‑style play area inside the building footprint and that any daycare or primary‑school operations in the CL zone would require a separate conditional use permit. Massaro also said the project team had discussed gates or closable security measures to prevent children from entering the parking lot.

Sean Sheward, a church representative, told the commission tenants currently occupying the buildings had been consulted. He said three month‑to‑month tenants in 3152 had agreed to relocate before a projected May start date and that five of seven tenants on the first floor of 3146 were being helped with relocation or offered up to three years to move to second‑floor space. The applicant stated regular attendance is about 700 across two services.

Vice Chair David Zick asked staff to replace references to an 'outdoor activity area' with wording that reflects the interior, unconditioned nature of the space. Commissioners adopted that change as a friendly amendment before calling the question. Commissioner Martinez moved to adopt staff’s recommended resolution finding the project exempt from CEQA and approving PCUP‑25‑0014; Commissioner Andrade seconded. The motion carried 6–0. The decision is appealable to the City Council within seven days.

The approved conditions prohibit daycare or school uses without separate City approval and require compliance with the other conditions adopted by the commission. Staff and the applicant said they would continue coordination on tenant relocation and security measures for the play area.