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Planning commission approves Potter’s House Christian Fellowship at 400 North Imperial Avenue
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Summary
The Imperial City Planning Commission approved Conditional Use Permit 26-01, allowing Potter’s House Christian Fellowship to operate in a 1,320 sq ft suite at 400 North Imperial Avenue; the 3-0 vote followed staff recommendation and neighbor outreach.
The Imperial City Planning Commission on April 22 approved Conditional Use Permit 26-01, allowing Ricardo Cortez to establish Potter’s House Christian Fellowship at 400 North Imperial Avenue, Unit 2. The permit passed on a 3-0 vote after staff recommended adoption of Resolution PC 2026-04.
Planning staff said the proposed 1,320-square-foot suite would include a sanctuary, prayer room and two restrooms and noted the property is in the village commercial zone where religious assembly is allowed with a conditional use permit. Staff said the project was noticed in the Ivy Weekly and that mailed notices went to property owners within 300 feet of the site. “Staff recommends the planning commission approve Resolution PC 2026-04 for Conditional Use Permit 26-01,” planning staff stated during the hearing.
Applicant Ricardo Cortez told commissioners the group began meeting in his home about 18 months ago and that on “a good day, like, 15 total, more or less” attend services. Cortez said he sought a commercial location to give congregants an identifiable, public meeting place and said he did not want to occupy a leased space without first obtaining the required permit.
Commissioners asked practical questions about restrooms, parking and weekly operations. Cortez said primary services will be Sundays, with a midweek service on Wednesdays (prayer at about 6:30 p.m. and service at 7:30 p.m.), and that the congregation’s music is limited to a keyboard and an acoustic guitar at the start of services. Planning staff reported that adjacent tenants visited during a site check and had no objections; staff said the tutoring operator to the east uses off-site school locations and maintains administrative offices at the adjacent suite.
Commissioners and a building/public-works staff member discussed sound isolation. The staff member explained expected sound-transmission-class (STC) performance for interior partitions and said the existing block wall and construction types should provide sufficient isolation for the proposed use. Commissioners noted the potential for schedule overlap with the adjacent tutoring operator and said that could be a nuisance if concurrent activities generated noise.
A commissioner moved to approve the permit; the motion was seconded and the commission voted 3-0 to approve. The applicant thanked the commission and departed with the approval.
What happens next: the resolution approved by the commission implements the conditional use permit; any required permits or conditions listed in the resolution and building or occupancy approvals remain necessary before full operation.
Reported facts are based on the planning commission public hearing and staff presentation on April 22, 2026. Approximate attendance figures are presented as stated by the applicant.
