New Church Gets Commission Approval

A new church appears to be headed for Pinole — at the sparsely populated Pinole Shores Business Park.

The Pinole Planning Commission approved on Monday night a use permit for the International Church of the Savior, which will hold Sunday and Wednesday services and operate an after-school program from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

The church has a three-year lease to fill a vacant suite of the business park facing San Pablo Avenue. The Pinole location would be the second for the San Francisco-based church.

The commission imposed some conditions on the use permit, as recommended by city staff. Temporary permits would be necessary for food giveaways and the church must provide a security plan subject to approval by the police department.

The church has one year to to make tenant improvements before the permit expires, Pinole Planning Manager Winston Rhodes said. The developer of the business park has the discretion to break its lease with the church to replace it with a new tenant, he said.

While the church is exempt from paying taxes, its presence could generate some traffic and for nearby retailers and restaurants, resulting in modest sales tax revenues for the city, Rhodes said.

The church will lease 2,786 square feet of space, which will include a sanctuary, pulpit and after-school room. Tenant improvements, such as a possible addition of a second bathroom, are subject to city approval before occupancy is allowed, Rhodes said.