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Planning Commission approves conversion of historic warehouse to church in Old Town Orange
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously approved the adaptive reuse of a historic warehouse and office building for Friends Church Orange at 527 West Almond Avenue and 180 South Cypress Street, authorizing CUP 3236 with conditions on parking management, landscaping and lighting.
The City of Orange Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit, design review and a minor site plan review to convert a historic warehouse and office building to a church and community-serving uses for Friends Church Orange.
Associate Planner Arlen Beck described the proposal as a consolidation and relocation that converts an existing loading dock into approximately 1,841 square feet of conditioned interior space and makes limited site improvements while retaining the historic character of the property. Beck said the project includes regularly scheduled worship services on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings, weekday administrative functions, Bible studies, small group meetings and a monthly food pantry. "Attendance typically ranges from approximately 150 to 270 congregants per service," Beck said.
Kyle Zimmerman, who identified himself as a lead pastor, described the congregation’s local work — including a food pantry and partnerships serving about 200 families — and said relocating to an owned facility would provide stability to expand those services. Multiple public commenters, including Donnie Deweese speaking for the Old Town Preservation Association, voiced support for the adaptive reuse and called the project well done.
Design Review Committee comments were discussed and staff confirmed DRC-recommended conditions were included in the planning commission resolution, including exterior paint tone, signage lighting, landscape replacement of Mexican feather grass, a requirement to use larger canopy shade species in the courtyard (condition 25) and exterior lighting capped at 3,000 Kelvin. The project team stated constraints with utilities and root space that affect tree selection and agreed to study suitable species and planter solutions; staff clarified that condition 25 must be satisfied prior to final approval of the church use.
After discussion, a motion to adopt Resolution PC-03-26 approving CUP 3236, Design Review 5159 and Minor Site Plan Review 1191 was made and passed unanimously. The Chair welcomed the church to the site following the vote.
