Business & Tech

Coptic Orthodox Church To Relocate To Industrial Park

A neighbor said he welcomes the church to Palm Desert, but does not believe it is a good location for safety, parking and liability reasons.

Saint Mary Magdalene Coptic Orthodox Church will move to a Palm Desert industrial park thanks to the city's Planning Commission.

In a 5-0 vote, commissioners approved a conditional use permit for the building at 77670 Enfield Lane in Palm Desert.

But first the church, which has 35 families in its congregation, will have to address safety and parking issues with its neighbors.

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Amir Ibrahim, 48, of Palm Desert and 23 other members celebrated following the meeting.

“I really think it is a cultural addition to Palm Desert,’’ Ibrahim said, adding that the Coptic Orthodox Church is among the oldest churches in the world.

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The church currently calls Cathedral City home and has been looking to move for several years. All of its members -- which include doctors, dentists, architects and engineers -- are immigrants from Egypt, according to Ibrahim.

During the meeting, the owner of the building next door -- Steve Metzler, who founded Industrial West, Inc. -- opposed the move because of parking and other issues.

“You’ve a natural gas line. You’ve got railroad tracks and you’ve got I-10,'' Metzler said. "Great place for an industrial park -- not a great place for an assembly.”

Metzler and church members agreed to try to work out how to best use the space to accommodate tractor-trailers that load and unload up to 40-foot metal signs.

Metzler expressed concern that a proposed fence would limit his 15-year tenant, . He also warned of safety concerns from mixing young congregants and industrial equipment.

“I’d like to see the church come in, but this is a terrible location,'' Metzler said.

Commissioners asked the church to resolve the fence issue, prohibit parking on neighboring lots and look into putting in a cross walk.

Ibrahim vowed to work with neighbors to come up with a solution.

"We will address any concerns,'' he said. "Our plan is not to bother anyone. Our plan is to make sure it is acceptable. We don’t believe in animosity or hard feelings. It is completely against the mission of the church."


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