Trinity hits hurdle in quest to build wall

Andrew Glazer

COSTA MESA -- The Planning Commission, unlike Joshua at Jericho, did

not wait for the Trinity Broadcasting Network to build a wall before

smashing it down.

Representatives from the Trinity Christian Center, headquarters to the

world’s largest Christian television channel, asked the commission to

grant permission to build a 22-foot wall dividing their sprawling campus

from neighboring homes.

But the commission unanimously voted against it after more than a

dozen residents decried the wall as “prison-like” and unneighborly.

“Now we’re getting into church and state issues, aren’t we?” asked

Paul Crouch, president of Trinity Broadcasting Network and an on-air

personality, before walking out of council chambers.

He declined further comment Tuesday.

At the meeting, Crouch told commissioners the wall would shield

neighbors from film crew noise, light spilling from the building on Bear

Street and the San Diego Freeway -- which is illuminated with white

Christmas lights like a Las Vegas casino -- and fumes from idling tour

buses.

“In the minds of some, we have become a nuisance,” he said. “We want

to do everything we can do to be good neighbors. To me, this would be a

win-win situation.”

Commissioner Katie Wilson said the church could start by applying for

permits each time it conducts outdoor taping for TV, films and music, as

city codes require.

Crouch, with an incredulous look, asked if the church should seek

permits to do anything work-related outdoors, including baptisms.

“There’s a lot of merit to that,” responded Perry Valantine, the

city’s secretary to the Planning Commission.

Crouch threw up his arms, questioned whether the city was bleeding

into unconstitutional territory and left the room.

Following the commission’s vote, roughly 20 people in the audience

applauded before leaving.