Desert Hot Springs planning panel approves 11,000‑sq‑ft sanctuary for 1st Pentecostal Church

The Desert Hot Springs Planning Commission voted unanimously July 14 to approve Conditional Use Permit 25-8, clearing the way for an approximately 11,000-square-foot sanctuary and associated uses for the 1st Pentecostal Church at 65241 San Jacinto Lane.

Staff presented the project and recommended approval, saying the site—located in the Light Industrial zoning district—currently has two existing buildings that would remain and a 111-stall parking lot. The staff report described the proposed sanctuary as about 11,000 square feet with roughly 546 seats, conference rooms, offices, dressing rooms and multiple restrooms, and concluded the project is eligible for a CEQA Guidelines Class 32 (urban infill) exemption. "This infill project is consistent with the general plan and zoning district," staff said in the presentation, recommending certification of the CEQA exemption and approval of the conditional use permit subject to conditions.

Bridal Ingersoll, an engineer with Adcan Engineers who spoke for the applicant, told commissioners the consultant team had coordinated with city staff and was available to answer questions. Applicant representative Danny Powers said the congregation has grown and currently ranges from about 300 to 400 people, noting outreach efforts including a program that serves roughly 80 local children with meals and backpacks. "They feed them. They do special programs for them," Powers said, describing the church's community services and the congregation's need for expanded space.

Powers also told the commission the church had previously pursued a different site near Highway 62 but encountered flood‑plain constraints and instead sought to expand at its current location; he said the group had previously obtained a conditional use permit around 2011 for an 8,000-square-foot building and was now seeking to enlarge that authorization.

With no public opposition or further commissioner questions recorded, a commissioner moved to certify the CEQA exemption and approve Conditional Use Permit 25-8. The motion passed unanimously. The commission did not record any abstentions or no votes during the roll call.

The approval allows the applicant to move forward subject to the conditions of approval listed in the staff report; the staff presentation referenced the CEQA Class 32 urban infill exemption (section 15332) as the environmental determination. The commission closed the public hearing and the meeting was subsequently adjourned.