TO: Chair and Members of the Planning Commission
THRU: Hayden Beckman, Planning Manager
FROM: Angelo Huang, Assistant Planner
1. Subject
title
Request for a time extension for the Copic Orthodox Church located at 491 N. Hewes Street (Conditional Use Permit No. 3215-23, Major Site Plan Review No. 1054-21, and Design Review No. 1799-15).
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2. Summary
A request to extend the entitlements for a proposal to construct a new multi-purpose service building for the existing Copic Orthodox Church by two years.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
Approve a two-year extension for Conditional Use Permit No. 3215-23, Major Site Plan Review No. 1054-21, and Design Review No. 1799-15.
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4. AUTHORIZING GUIDELINES
Orange Municipal Code (OMC) Section17.08.060 authorizes the Planning Commission, upon written request prior to expiration, to grant up to a two-year extension of time of any approved permit application, upon presentation of extenuating circumstances, subject to the contingency that no conditions are added, deleted, or modified. Such time extension shall not require public notice.
5. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
On January 15, 2024, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. PC 01-24 (Attachment 2) approving Conditional Use Permit No. 3215-23, Major Site Plan Review No. 1054-21, and Design Review No. 1799-15 to construct a new multi-purpose service building.
The applicant has not pursued the approved project due to external negotiations to acquire a neighboring property with a worship center (Attachment 1). The acquisition would have resulted in a change of plans for the church and so the church temporarily paused progress on the project during negotiations with the neighboring property. In conclusion, the church did not acquire the neighboring property and are now resuming the plans to construct the multi-purpose service building.
The requested entitlement extension would provide the applicant with enough time to procure construction plans to submit to the city and continue moving forward in the permitting process.
On November 19, 2025, the Community Development Department received a written request from the project applicant (Attachment 1), requesting that a time extension be granted for the project entitlements. The time extension would begin on January 15, 2026, and expire on January 15, 2028. No changes have been proposed to the approved plans or entitlements.
6. ATTACHMENTS
• Attachment 1 Extension Request Letter
• Attachment 2 Resolution No. PC 01-24
• Attachment 3 Project Plans
• Attachment 4 Planning Commission Staff Report dated January 15, 2024