The building of a church on 9 acres in southwestern Menifee was approved Tuesday night after planning commissioners heard concerns about the late discovery of tribal artifacts and worries that traffic and lights would disturb the area's rural atmosphere.

Last month the commission delayed a vote on the His Light on the Hill project to allow time for a tribal monitor representing the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians to review an archaeologist's survey of the site. The property sits within an area of importance for the Pechangas and the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians.

Michele Fahley, an attorney for the Pechanga tribe, said the monitor discovered several cultural resources that the archaeologist did not include in his survey.
"Unfortunately the archaeologist did not contact the tribe early on so we weren't there from the beginning," Fahley said. "Now we're in a position to try and avoid impacts, but unfortunately we won't be able to save everything out there and it will unfortunately be a loss for the tribe."

The plan approved by the commission Tuesday allows for several buildings covering about 47,000 square feet, and some areas reserved as open space, on a property at the northeast corner of Murrieta and Holland roads.

The church plans to operate from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. seven days a week and also run a coffee shop and bookstore before and after prayer services, which some neighbors opposed. The buildings include a main sanctuary, two classrooms, meeting rooms, a maintenance building and a sanctuary that could later convert to a gymnasium.

Three neighbors opposed the project, saying that a church built to accommodate 1,200-plus parishioners would bring traffic, commotion and nighttime lighting that doesn't fit the surrounding rural area.

"Some of us spent our life savings to move to areas that we want to be preserved with the rural atmosphere that they now have," said Mary Ketza, who lives near the church property.

Pastor Garland Gauthier responded that the church would not be filled to its 1,200-person capacity seven days a week.
"There are days we'll only have 10 people there working in the office," he said.
Reach Julissa McKinnon at 951-375-3730 or jmckinnon@PE.com