San Diego Church Zoning Lawsuit Over Traffic and Environmental Issues Ends with City Approval
All Peoples Church sued San Diego in 2024 over zoning denials for its Light Project mega church.
Why it matters: Land use and religious rights litigation increasingly influence how cities regulate large developments. This case shows balancing religious land use protections with neighborhood environmental and traffic concerns.
- All Peoples Church owns 6 acres at 5555 College Avenue for the Light Project mega church.
- San Diego City Council denied the project 6-2 in January 2024, citing faulty traffic data and environmental worries.
- Church sued under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), alleging unlawful zoning burdens.
- After legal negotiations, City Council approved the project in March 2025, ending the dispute without a court ruling.
In 2017, All Peoples Church purchased 6 acres at 5555 College Avenue, San Diego, intending to build the Light Project — a large church with a 900-seat sanctuary, classrooms, parking for 363 vehicles, and community spaces.
In January 2024, the City Council rejected the project on a 6-2 vote. Councilmember Raul Campillo criticized the church's traffic reports as "faulty," raising concerns about increased congestion. Local group Save Del Cerro, led by Barbara Blakeley, voiced opposition citing impacts on neighborhood traffic and environment; Blakeley said she spoke for over 1,000 local residents. The concerns illustrate the tension between preserving community character and allowing religious developments.
Following denial, All Peoples Church filed suit in March 2024 under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) claiming the city's zoning actions imposed a "substantial burden" on its religious exercise without a compelling government interest. RLUIPA prevents discriminatory zoning that restricts religious institutions unfairly.
Though exact filings and responses remain confidential, City Council minutes and local news outlets such as San Diego Union-Tribune document the dispute. After negotiations, the council reversed its denial and approved the project in March 2025, effectively settling without a trial or judicial ruling. Details about modifications or agreements that resolved traffic or environmental concerns have not been disclosed.
This scenario underscores challenges cities and legal teams face when zoning intersects with federally mandated religious rights and community concerns. Legal counsel should watch how similar cases resolve, especially regarding traffic impact analyses and environmental mitigation in religious land use disputes.
By the numbers:
- 6-acre site — Light Project church campus size
- 6-2 vote — City Council rejection in January 2024
- March 2024 — lawsuit filed by All Peoples Church
- March 2025 — City Council approves project after negotiations
Yes, but: While the lawsuit was resolved by City Council approval, lack of public details on the settlement terms limits understanding of legal precedents or concessions made.
What's next: Legal observers anticipate closely monitoring any future San Diego land use or RLUIPA claims to see if this case influences city planning and religious institution negotiations.