The Santa Ana Planning Commission voted Dec. 15 to approve Conditional Use Permit 2025‑26 and Variance 2025‑02 for Iglesia Cristiana Rayo de Luz to construct an approximately 11,788‑square‑foot single‑story church at 1441 E. 17th St., with a basement parking level that will provide 26 stalls and 10 surface stalls on site. Staff reported a site shortfall in on‑site parking but said the applicant holds agreements for 12 shared spaces at the Planned Parenthood site and 103 shared spaces at The Village to meet parking demand during service hours.

Pedro Gomez, the case planner, described operational safeguards: indoor‑only services (applicant‑proposed Friday–Sunday evenings), fully shielded lighting, landscape buffers, and a required parking management plan. Staff recommended conditions requiring an updated parking management plan prior to occupancy and noted CEQA Class 32 and Class 1 exemptions for the project.

Applicant representatives stressed the congregation’s long standing presence in Santa Ana and presented signed agreements with adjacent properties for shared parking. Dozens of in‑person public commenters — mainly congregation members — spoke in favor, citing youth programs and community services. Other nearby residents and a local architect raised concerns about notice timing, peak‑hour traffic, spillover parking, and the potential for special events to create daytime conflicts.

Commissioners debated the parking reliance on off‑site spaces and whether staff should require additional post‑occupancy monitoring. Commissioner Leo proposed a six‑month review by planning staff to assess parking and traffic impacts after occupancy; Commissioner Liu made the motion to approve with that review. Chair Ramos offered a friendly amendment expanding weekend operating hours to allow Saturday and Sunday activities from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., contingent on the approved parking management plan and the six‑month review to identify any required adjustments. The commission accepted the amendments and adopted the resolutions by roll call vote; Commissioner Escamilla was absent.

Conditions require the applicant to finalize shared‑parking agreements in the parking management plan, provide an updated plan before occupancy, implement landscape and photometric mitigation, and comply with building and safety code plan checks. Planning staff will perform the six‑month review once the church begins regular operations and will recommend further action to the commission if the review finds unanticipated impacts.

The commission’s approval is subject to the standard 10‑day appeal period.