Planners Approve Church Expansion

With about 70 members of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church watching, the Simi Valley Planning Commission on Wednesday approved plans for a new sanctuary and school at the church.

Parish officials want to build a 15,556-square-foot church and a 6,006-square-foot parish center next to their current building at the corner of Cochran and Stow streets. Construction on the sanctuary is expected to begin this fall.

The school will come later. Plans approved Wednesday call for a 23,363-square-foot building--big enough for 11 classrooms--to be finished in time for the 2004-05 school year. The school would have room for about 300 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade.

The current church building will be remodeled to serve as an auditorium.

Father Dennis Mongrain told commissioners that his growing flock needed the new facilities. “It is obvious and evident to everyone in our parish that we’ve outgrown our present structure,” he said.

The current church building seats just 740 people, he said, while the new structure will have space for 1,056.

Parishioner Mary Heidel said the community needs the school. “Our children need to be educated in the best way, and this is the best way,” she said.

Commissioners made one significant change to the plan, requiring that a playground near the school be moved at least 100 feet away from the property line to reduce noise spilling over into the neighborhood.