#6 4S rallies against proposed church

By Elizabeth Marie Himchak

A civil lawsuit filed earlier this month by Salviati Homeowners Association against Chinese Bible Church of San Diego is the latest development in the controversial proposed project planned for 4S Ranch’s west border.

Last January, a group of 4S Ranch and Santa Fe Valley residents formed, united in their opposition to the church, which they say is a project not suitable to their neighborhood due to the project’s size.

The complex would be on an 8-plus acre site at 16919 Four Gee Road in Santa Fe Valley, just west of the 4S Ranch border and across from Rancho Santa Fe Fire Station No. 2. Plans call for a two-phase build out that include a church with seating for 1,500, two multi-purpose buildings, three classroom buildings, a gymnasium, café, bookstore and parking for 480 vehicles.

Opponents, united as the 4S/Santa Fe Valley Mega-Project Abatement Coalition, say the project’s size is not suitable for the residential community and that if built would lead to traffic and public safety problems. In addition, they were critical of two community meetings held in May to answer residents’ questions and concerns. Due to the format and location, opponents said the meetings did not allay their concerns over the project.

Proponents say residents’ fears are unfounded since the church will not have an attendance similar to churches like The Rock Church in San Diego, which reportedly has about 13,000 members. In addition, they claim that due to the project there will be community improvements, such as a street widening and addition of a traffic signal.

In the lawsuit, the HOA is claiming church representatives misrepresented the project when obtaining a HOA-owned easement needed to access the property. Earlier this year the HOA took unsuccessful steps to revoke the easement.

Chinese Bible Church of San Diego has four campuses. If the proposed project is built, it will consolidate activities at the church’s main campus in Carmel Mountain Ranch and its central campus, which meets at Westview High School in Rancho Penasquitos.

Communities the new church would serve include 4S Ranch, Santa Fe Valley, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Carmel Valley and Rancho Santa Fe.