St. Andrew’s ought to shine neighborly light

The St. Andrew’s Church group continues to pursue the plan for this

ludicrous church expansion, in spite of massive opposition from their

surrounding neighbors.

St. Andrew’s has brought many problems to this community, as is

evident from the dozens of protest signs and placards posted by local

residents.

Traffic and noise produced by this complex have become

progressively worse in recent years. Despite complaints, activities

often continue seven days a week, frequently until late evening.

Many of those in favor of the project live outside this community

or are well away from the campus location. They are totally

unaffected and don’t live with the traffic and noise that the

neighbors have to endure. Some days, Clay Street is like an

industrial area.

Environmental problems here have become steadily worse since the

initial expansion application 20 years ago.

Most of us in this community agreed (reluctantly) to the modified

expansion plan, and we had to endure more than two years of noise,

pollution and major traffic disruption during the construction.

Now they want us to agree to a second, huge construction project,

which could take another two years to complete.

One of the claimed reasons to try to justify the project is the

expansion of youth programs. We have lived very near this church

complex for 22 years, and we feel this area has deteriorated because

of increasing activities and mismanagement of the St. Andrew’s

complex. Several of the youth activities are unsupervised and often

run completely out of control.

There are already many excellent, well-organized Presbyterian

youth programs available at churches that have suitable space and are

located in properly zoned areas.

Any additional expansion here will further increase noise, traffic

and pollution in this area, which already has two large schools and

where the streets are rapidly becoming a traffic bypass for Coast

Highway congestion. Vehicle parking under the church’s new plan will

undoubtedly and absolutely spill over onto all the adjacent streets

and make the current problems much worse.

The $20-million-plus cost of proposed expansion will apparently

come from the church’s main fund.

Huffman wrote recently on the St. Andrew’s website: “We want to

shine the light of Jesus across Newport Harbor.”

He really should shine the light of Jesus on his neighbors, almost

all of whom are totally opposed to any expansion and are tired of all

the deception.

WILLIAM P. DAVIES

Newport Beach