AN OPEN LETTER FROM CONCERNED CITIZENS

The Coronado City Council took a vote to not grant a Major Special Use Permit at its April 18 meeting for the proposed Logos College. Since that time, many Logos supporters have taken issue with the decision on grounds primarily having to do with a supposed need for such a religious youth center in Coronado. However, the City Council did not decide on whether a youth center might be nice, it decided on a Major Special Use Permit.

The vote on the MSUP was split 2:2, with one recusal because of a conflict. The reason a vote on MSUP was required for this project is that the property is located in a Multi-Family Residential Zone with Parking Overlay and the proposed construction did not conform to this zone. The main reasons the MSUP were denied are as follows. First, the planned building was approximately 10,000 square feet and yet described as being for 50 students. The disparity suggests that there is a great opportunity for mission creep. The second major reason was the expectation that it would cause too much traffic, especially since the City’ stated occupancy for the building was 360 individuals. This occupancy supported the notion of increased traffic and the possibility of mission creep. Finally, the City’s public notice described the structure as being for “assembly purposes.” Zoning rules require far more parking for an assembly hall than was provided by the plan. For these reasons, Council Members Donovan and Benzian voted to not grant the MSUP.

Council Members Donovan and Benzian voted based on rules. Should the City Council now choose to revisit the decision, it would be doing so not based on rules, but on an agenda.

We, the undersigned, ask the City Council to not now base any further discussion or decision for the MSUP on a political, economic, or religious or any other agenda, but rather to stand by the rules-based vote already taken.

Sincerely,