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Speak Out
Church not welcomed
I am writing in response to Kirk Heinrich's (Campbell's redevelopment manager) comments about the legality of Unity Center of Silicon Valley to occupy our location at 125 E. Campbell Ave.
First of all, we are not illegal. Our legal counsel has made this abundantly clear to us and to the city. We are discriminated against because we are a church. Other uses permitted in this zone are similar to ours as stated by a senior planner who wrote a recommendation to accompany our application to the Planning Commission.
There are gatherings, music and food allowed. The thing that differentiates us from the theater, the Odd Fellows Hall and restaurants is that we talk about God, which is our first amendment right. Several churches have rented the Odd Fellows Hall for their services and even had their beginnings there.
Churches are omitted from the zoning codes throughout Campbell. No church can move into Campbell without going through city planning, variances, etc. Redevelopment officials told our land-use attorney, Scott Sommer, that the only place a church could locate would be in public areas zoned for schools and city offices, and there was zero availability in those zones.
Rev. Carole M. Lunde, Minister
Unity Center of Silicon Valley
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Campbell, California
