Planning commission denies St. George request to allow event rentals, citing precedent and enforcement concerns

After taking public comment at earlier hearings, the Planning and Zoning Commission returned to a request by St. George Greek Orthodox Church to modify special permit #19‑05 so the church could rent its community hall for outside events.

The commission noted a long public record and a staff notice of violation alleging the hall had been used for unpermitted rentals. Commissioner Lou said he was concerned about citywide precedent: "If we approve this for St. George, it's my understanding under the law that we're approving it for all of those other organizations ... You're going to hear it throughout the city," he said, noting residents' noise complaints and past noncompliance.

Legal and procedural concerns: staff and multiple commissioners warned that live music and event uses are not permitted in the CD1L residential zone where the church sits and that approving a modification in this case could be precedent‑setting. Staff recommended the appropriate pathway would be a zoning text amendment (or concurrent text amendment plus special‑permit modification) rather than a one‑off permit change for a property where the use is disallowed by the zoning table.

Enforcement and neighbors: commissioners cited a notice of violation for unpermitted event rentals and residents' testimony about noise and traffic impacts. Commissioner JJ said he sympathized with neighbors who described sustained noise and disruption and observed that the church appeared to have operated contrary to its permit.

Vote: the motion to deny the requested modification passed 6–1 by roll call. Commissioners recorded a mix of concerns — legal footing, precedent, and enforcement history — as reasons for denial. Several commissioners noted the church may pursue a zoning text amendment or other lawful route if it seeks broader permission to rent the hall.

Ending: the denial preserves the 2006 condition that the community hall not be rented for events; the commission suggested the applicant could pursue a text amendment to address the underlying zoning constraints if it wished to proceed.