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Escondido zoning administrator approves New Vision North County church at Marshops Mall
Summary
The Escondido zoning administrator approved a minor conditional use permit allowing New Vision North County to use a 278-square-foot suite inside Marshops Mall for religious assembly and ancillary counseling services, with conditions limiting amplification and special events and noting appeal rights to the planning commission.
The Escondido zoning administrator approved PL250135 on a minor conditional use basis, allowing New Vision North County to operate a religious assembly and ancillary counseling services from a 278-square-foot suite (Suite 363) inside the existing Marshops Mall retail center, city staff said.
City staff presented the application and recommended approval, citing the property’s commercial plan development designation and the city code provision allowing minor conditional use permits where no substantial structural alterations are proposed. Assistant planner Melissa Demarzo told the hearing the proposed services would be limited to mall hours (currently 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.), have a maximum capacity of 70 patrons, and include low-level amplification conditioned to minimize impacts to adjacent tenants. Demarzo also cited federal and local land-use law noted in the staff report and recommended approval of resolution 2026-02.
Public commenters urged approval. Retired Navy chaplain Roger Vanderworth said chaplain services “offer a lot of hope to men and women who serve,” and described the community value of faith-based counseling. Pastor and Deputy Mayor Joe Garcia said he was “tickled pink” to see a place of quiet and reflection in the mall and noted the applicant has paid rent for more than a year as evidence of commitment. A founding pastor for New Vision described the church’s counseling, education and community-support work and said the project would be an asset, not a liability, to the surrounding area.
Staff and the zoning administrator clarified operational limits: events taking place outside the suite would require a temporary use permit submitted to the city; events of fewer than 70 people taking place inside the suite are covered by the approved use permit. The city also conditioned amplification so doors must be closed when microphones or speakers are used, consistent with mall lease restrictions.
In approving the permit, the zoning administrator found the project categorically exempt under applicable SEQA/CEQA guidelines for existing facilities, adopted the findings of fact in Exhibit B of the resolution, and approved PL250135 as depicted in the project plans and subject to conditions. The decision may be appealed to the planning commission pursuant to zoning code section 33-1303.
