No farmers market at Eastside church, Costa Mesa decides

Following a public hearing that pitted Eastside Costa Mesa neighbors against one another, the City Council on Wednesday denied a church’s request to host a weekend farmers market in its parking lot.

The unanimous council decision — which came around 1:30 a.m. during a marathon session that ran over eight hours — overturned Planning Commission action allowing St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, at 183. E. Bay St., to hold the market on Saturdays with up to 15 vendors.

Buoy Street resident Carrie Renfro appealed the matter to the council following the planners’ June 8 approval of the market. She presented an anti-market petition bearing 100 signatures.

“The farmers market has merit but not in this location,” Renfro said.

In her appeal to the council she contended that the commercial endeavor would be a poor addition to the residential neighborhood, bringing with it unwanted traffic and parking problems.

“We’re very concerned about placing a commercial business in a residential area,” Renfro said. “Non-residential traffic and overflow parking will have a negative impact on the neighborhood.”

She added that St. John was being “disingenuous” by calling the market a “neighborhood service.” She argued that it would bring in shoppers from all over, not just the Eastside.

The Rev. Philip DeVaul said his church’s property is an appropriate place for a market and that the proposal has had the support of neighbors and the majority of St. John’s Manor, a senior complex next to the church.

“This is not a zoning accident but a recognition that churches, though not residential themselves, can offer unique opportunities for community-building in residential areas that no other institutions can offer,” DeVaul said.

He noted that the church wanted to donate 25% of the market’s proceeds to city nonprofits.

“Our primary motive is not commercial; it’s communal,” DeVaul said.

About 30 people spoke about the proposal, both for and against it.

Some expressed concern that other churches would start hosting similar events, thus generating more traffic.

Proponents said the market would enhance residents’ lifestyles and support local farmers.

Councilwoman Sandy Genis called the event “a wonderful idea in concept, but the location is a little funky. The site is a little small.”

Though Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer ended up rejecting the market idea, he initially suggested approving it, but only with parking changes.

He said concerns about traffic were overstated, theorizing that the market would not attract shoppers from outside the immediate area.

“I’m hearing a lot of concerns, but this is a very, very, very small farmers market,” Righeimer said.

In a follow-up interview Wednesday afternoon, Renfro said she was “very happy.”

“I’m grateful that the council listened to the facts and not just the sentiment,” she said. “It’s a victory for the whole neighborhood.”