Goleta City Council: Uphold the denial
The Goleta Planning Commission denied the 20,000+ square foot event center on Los Carneros Road. Anthem is now appealing to the City Council to overturn that decision.
Anthem Chapel leases the lot behind Christ Lutheran Church, which has provided free parking for City of Goleta events for many years. The property sits next to a public open space nature preserve and environmentally sensitive monarch butterfly habitat, along Los Carneros Road, a designated Scenic Corridor and an emergency evacuation route.
The plan includes a 6,512 square foot sanctuary for 500 adults, with a 13,554 square foot, two-story education building for their children to attend Bible study during Sunday services. They plan to hold up to three of these services every Sunday, staggered by “at least 45 minutes.”
With 500 adults plus their children on site at the same time, 117 parking spaces is grossly inadequate. Add 26 weddings and 30 memorials a year, and concurrent Stow House public events (which already strain neighboring streets) will be squeezed out. Daycare and preschool drop-offs and pick-ups during rush hour would add even more traffic to Los Carneros Road, a Class II bike route, right next to the firehouse exit.
“If there’s a better option, we would probably take it even now. The problem is there is no better option and that’s why we’re still here.”
Mike Ryder, Anthem Chapel project manager, Planning Commission hearing (August 10, 2026)
This is a campus, not a neighbor
A sanctuary, a school, a daycare and an event venue, all on one lot, all week long. Every fact below comes from the project application
Location: 6595 Covington Way, Goleta (Parcel 077-160-022)
PARKING & TRAFFIC OVERFLOW
500 adults plus their children on site at the same time, up to three times every Sunday
Children attend Sunday school in the education building during every service, and none of that building is counted toward required parking
117 parking spaces must serve 500 adults, their children, and Sunday staff and volunteers, but the City’s parking count only included the adults in the sanctuary.
Weekday evening services and Tuesday/Thursday youth groups of 50 to 100 children
Up to 26 weddings and 30 memorials a year, up to 300 people each, plus conferences and special events
Current overflow parking already blocks fire hydrants, driveways and intersections
Two driveways on Los Carneros Road, one new, both crossing a Class II bike lane
NOISE IMPACTS
Outdoor play yard for up to 110 children was never studied in the noise report
Youth groups Tuesday and Thursday evenings
Religious noise is exempt from the City’s 10 PM to 7 AM nighttime limit
Homes, the preserve and Stow House all qualify as “sensitive noise receptors” under the Goleta General Plan
Neighbors raised noise concerns when Anthem held services in a tent on this lot
FIRE EVACUATION SAFETY
Directly north of the site are High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (State Fire Marshal, 2025)
Los Carneros Road is a main artery out of those zones to Highway 101 and is identified as an evacuation route in the City’s draft Safety Element
Driveways sit 180 feet from the Fire Station 14 exit
Up to three Sunday services, weddings and memorials would put hundreds of cars on that artery when it may be needed to evacuate
OPERATING HOURS
Sunday: 8 AM to 9 PM (up to 3 services)
Weekday evening service: 6 PM to 9 PM
Youth groups: Tuesday and Thursday evenings
Daycare: M-F 8 AM to 5 PM; Preschool: M-F 9 AM to 1 PM
Bible study: daily, up to 75 people
Office staff: M-F 7 AM to 6 PM
BUILDING SCALE
20,066 SF combined: 6,512 SF sanctuary and 13,554 SF two-story education building
Sanctuary height 27'8" (exceeds 25' limit); freestanding cross 33'10" (exceeds 30' limit)
Lot split from Christ Lutheran Church already approved by the Planning Commission on August 10, 2026
Exemptions, exemptions, exceptions, oh my!
This massive development needed nine exceptions to City code just to fit on the lot. Plus it was exempted from environmental review, even though it borders monarch habitat and a public nature preserve.
No environmental review: CEQA “infill” exemption, so no Initial Study or Environmental Impact Report
Monarch habitat buffer: cut in half, from 100 feet to 50 feet, with a children’s play yard and a stormwater basin inside it
Education building height: up to 27'8", over the 25' limit
Freestanding cross: 33'10", over the 30' limit
Christ Lutheran’s remaining lot: six exceptions caused by the lot split
parking lot shading cut from 50% to 22%
41 parking spaces instead of 43
fewer trees than required
no loading space
no e-bike charging
an existing building left 5 feet inside the new setback
Noise: religious sound is exempt from the City’s 10 PM to 7 AM nighttime limit
For comparison, the Islamic Center on Los Carneros requested two deviations and still went through an Initial Study, not a categorical exemption.
This multi-use event center would include a sanctuary, a two-story education building with a daycare and preschool, and office space, plus large events throughout the year. It is far too big for this lot and for a residential neighborhood. Services, Bible study, youth groups, daycare, preschool, weddings and memorials mean something would be happening on this lot every day of the week.
The bottom line: it’s too big for this lot.
All of it would share 117 parking spaces, and the City counted only the adults in the sanctuary. The children, staff and volunteers were never counted. The result raises serious concerns about safety, evacuation, and the cumulative impact on Stow House, the Railroad Museum, Lake Los Carneros visitors, and the surrounding neighborhood.
The Islamic Center down the road is about 6,500 square feet and went through environmental review. Anthem’s sanctuary alone is that size. The full project is three times larger and got none.
Evidence of Current Demand
Anthem rents the Goleta Valley Junior High auditorium every Sunday, which seats 630. It also uses additional school buildings. For Christmas, it has booked both the performing arts center and the gym at Dos Pueblos High School, with a combined capacity of nearly 2,000 (SBUSD reservation records).
Cars counted at Anthem’s current Sunday location:
290 cars on June 22, 2025
315 cars on July 10, 2025
117 parking spaces in their plan
What Could This Space Become?
What if we came together to shape the future of this space as a community?
Imagine if local residents persuaded the city to acquire the property. This is a rare opportunity to stand up for something that reflects our shared values — not just another private development, but something by and for the people who live here.
Overflow parking to support Stow House events
Retain current Monarch butterfly overwintering protections
Nature Resource Center
Flexible open space for farmers markets, art fairs, and maker events
What would you like to see happen?
Key Community Concerns
The proposed Anthem Chapel development at 6595 Covington Way raises significant concerns for our residential community. As neighbors and residents, we believe this large-scale assembly use is incompatible with our quiet residential area and violates key principles of responsible community development.
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Our neighborhood is zoned for single-family residential use to maintain low-density living and preserve the natural character that makes this area special. Large assembly facilities fundamentally conflict with residential zoning intentions.
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The scale and frequency of proposed activities would disrupt the peaceful character of our neighborhood. Weekly services, evening events, and related gatherings generate significant noise that affects residents' ability to enjoy their homes and outdoor spaces.
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The proposed development lacks adequate parking, forcing overflow into neighborhood streets. This creates safety hazards for pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency vehicle access while burdening residents with congestion and blocked driveways.
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The Lake Los Carneros area is designated as a protected scenic resource in the Goleta General Plan. The proposed development threatens the visual integrity and environmental sensitivity of this cherished community asset.
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Fire safety and evacuation concerns arise from the proposed high-occupancy use in a residential setting.
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Large-scale commercial assembly use in a residential zone threatens property values and undermines residents' investments in their homes and community.
Ways to Get Involved
Attend City Council Meetings
Most Critical Action: Show up to the City Council meeting when this project is discussed. Your physical presence demonstrates community concern and allows you to speak during public comment periods. There is also a Zoom option.
What to Do:
Arrive early to sign up for public comment (usually 2-3 minutes per speaker)
Prepare concise, fact-based comments focusing on traffic, safety, parking, or zoning concerns
Contact Your City Council Members Directly
Personal Influence: Direct constituent contact carries significant weight with elected officials. This appeal will come down to a City Council vote.
Contact Information:
Email or call their offices
Request in-person meetings during office hours
Be specific about your concerns and ask for their position