MegaChurch Madness Spreads….

……LIKE IT WAS H1N1

From Wildomar to Murrieta. Or is it, from Murrieta to Wildomar?

“A remarkable lack of simple due diligence,” quoth Zak Turango. ”Members should demand their building fund donations back from their leaders for incompetently wasting all of their design dollars and acquisition costs.”

Calvary Chapel had to ask Murrieta to reject their egotistic and overly-ambitious plans for a larger version of their current large church. This is what can happen when former electrical contractors become overly successful in another, unrelated mileau.  They don’t often have the experience and expertise to operate in the realities of their new world. 

Perhaps they thought that their Murrieta City Council Member members could get them a pass on the project (just like in Wildomar). The heads of their leadership must’ve been somewhere else when the decision to purchase 100 acres of bare, “unbuildable” land was made. (See above).

 Isn’t that what the back windows of their  Chapel member’s gas-guzzling SUV’s all proclaim anyway? ” Not Of This World” (See below). An oddly prescient admission.

According to today’s Californian, “In 2003, the church bought the land in hopes of relocating its current sanctuary and schools on Monroe Avenue north of California Oaks Road to the new site. While designers began piecing together what the campus could look like, an environmental determination was made that a regional conservation plan applied to most, if not all of the land. Church representatives initially were told 100 percent of the land would have to be preserved, Tyler said, but earlier this year city officials said that possibly as many as 29 acres could be developed.”

Twenty nine acres is not enough?

Perhaps, this is why the pastor of Cornerstone Community Church (a former insulation contractor) , which is located on a beautiful and natural hillside  in Wildomar that is to be removed,  is working so hard to avoid an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) for their 80+ acre plans. Someone or some agency, beyond their local, undue  political influence, might tell them that they cannot infect Wildomar residents with this particular strain of the dread ”ambition virus,” to the detriment of  Wildomar.

And don’t for a moment think that the pastors of these mega-churches don’t compete with each other for new members. The pastor of the last Calvary Chapel Zak ever visited (in Ontario, Ca)  proudly boasted of the number in attendance at the service so Zak never went back.  Most mega-pastors are enormously prideful little mega-roosters.  Zak, at that time, only wanted to worship, not check sizes. Now, since megachurches are all about “size matters,” and worship doesn’t (Don’t get Zak started on Praise Bands), Zak no longer bothers, either.

Zak, at least, knows the clean, fresh air of clear-headed thinking.

Despite the stroke damage.

Common Sense versus The Economist…

 

……SOMETIMES BEING TOO SMART IS TOO COSTLY

Press Enterprise reporter, Aaron Burgin juxtaposed the issue well, in his article found in today’s paper, citing the Building Industry Association’s (“BIA”) favorite orifice. However, a little common sense usually deflates such theoretic puffery and flatulent opinion, at least among the common folk.

“Our recovery, whether you like it or not, will not occur until we get construction up and going,” said Inland economist John Husing, who is credited for initially suggesting the fee breaks to stimulate the economy.”

The developers created the housing bubble in Southwest Riverside County and, as a result, the overbuilding and foreclosures that now wrack our economy, and now Husing wants us to reduce the developer’s fees to get the developer’s profit-making bubble back on track. Haven’t we suffered enough?

Sounding a bit like the man who murders his parents and then throws himself on the mercy of the Court because he is an orphan, Husing wants to dump a hoped for economic recovery onto the backs of those of us now living in high density tracts and who spend long hours on a freeway commuting to a job somewhere else.

But then, the awesome power of common sense intercepts theory.

“Opponents, however, say the price the region will pay in the loss of dollars critical to improving the region’s underwhelming infrastructure is too steep.

“This is money that we can’t get back,” Wildomar Councilwoman Sheryl Ade said. “And when it comes time to widen our roads and improve our infrastructure, we won’t be able to do it.”

Ah, sweet, soothing common sense, like an aloe balm on chapped lips. Wildomar’s finest elected public servant deftly points her thoughtful   finger  downward and draws a practical line in Husing’s theoretical sandbox.

If the developer’s won’t pay for the infrastructure their high density tracts will create the need for, then the current taxpayers have to pay for it or sit in traffic.  No, thank you, Zak would rather wait for a real economic recovery to return, not one based solely on construction. Instead, Husing, and those who believe his words, lobby cities like Wildomar,  to support giving away money to developers to lure them back to build more houses.

Wildomar Magazine supports and applauds Councilwoman Sheryl Ade in her efforts to protect current Wildomar residents from an impacted future, stuck in traffic on the two lane Clinton Keith Bridge that developer fees haven’t paid enough to widen as yet.

Meanwhile, the modest tract home currently I own in Windsong Valley is sufficient to make my life pleasant. (That’s a conservative concept… MODERATION, not NIMBY).

Comments can be made below but understand that any comments may be published by Wildomar Magazine; but then  BIA reps know that, ’cause BIA reps are smart…. too smart.  Heard one whining again  last week at City Council.

Appellant Cites Cornerstone’s Missing…

…..BATHROOMS

And lots of them. No wee matter. (Sadly, Zak resorts to a pun; admittedly, the lowest form of humor). 

Wildomar resident and appellant Jim Filanc re-introduced himself to the Council and public last evening at the Wildomar City Council meeting, where his appeal of the Cornerstone parking expansion project includes asking the City Council to revisit the plans for Cornerstones’s athletic ”ministries,” which apparently do not provide for restroom “ministries.”

According to Filanc, it is Cornerstone’s intentions to have spectators walk several hundred feet to use bathrooms in the sanctuary.

Or, perhaps, another example (see above)  of a  ”Cornerstone incremental” under-the-radar solution is contemplated.

In any event, the matter was continued to January 2010 at Cornerstone’s request, removing the delay argument from known council supporter’s sense of urgency. Alleged delays in the past years (at the County and for which Wildomar is not responsible nor should the Wildomar council be in a rush) were, many times, the result of lack of timely preparation by Cornerstone or their reps. 

The tenor of the room was changed when CEQA attorney Ray Johnson, of the law firm, Johnson & Sedlack, easily listed the glaring deficiencies in the current project’s plans, each of which should trigger an obligation on the part of Cornerstone to produce an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”).

Has civic sanity, rather than undue unfluence,  returned to the political process in Wildomar?  

Wee think so.

Cornerstone, The Appeal

 

 

…IN FAIRNESS TO ALL

Once again, as a public service, at no cost to the reader ( far less than $964), Wildomar Magazine tries to inform regarding tonight’s appeal of the current parking lot/athletic field project, brought by the City of Menifee and several Wildomar residents.

First, Cornerstone is entitled to develop their land, but must satisfy, by mitigation, the community’s interests, especially environmental matters, such as traffic, effects of  added lighting, and grading.

Of note, the church has grown to be quite large and has built it’s land holdings from an original 9+ acres to more than 80 acres.  The original 9+ acres was purchased by the Christian Evangelistic Assemblies (“CEA”), a Ca. corporation, which apparently “morphed” into its current form, as Grace International, headquartered in Houston Texas. The CEA took title to the property during a  time of turmoil, by purchasing the property from the former pastor, Billy Doyle Young, who was arrested and convicted of assaulting a church elder during a fight in the lobby of the small independent church.   (See PressEnterprise  September 30, 1992 ”Jury finds pastor guilty in beating.”) 

The parent organization, the CEA,  then facilitated  the move of Cornerstone from Margarita Middle School in Temecula to the present site.  In essence, Cornerstone received an enormous advantage, as a new church, over other new churches,who still had to rent expensive warehouses and school rooms to meet.  I’m sure that Cornerstone has at some later date purchased the land from the CEA but the early advantages of  low cost, or free, land and facilities inurring  to Cornerstone’s benefit must have contributed to their success and growth in some manner.

Second, it is inherent in evangelical churches, such as Cornerstone, that growth is always intended. It’s based on the concept of the Great Commission, when Jesus told his followers to “Go ye into the whole world and preach the Gospel.”  Like any other business enterprise, limits on growth are rarely set; instead, limits such as lack of parking or seating, are recognized and resolved through expansion, as space allows.

One of Cornerstone’s pastors admitted that their growth target is 10,000 members but that comment was oddly renounced during the recent Planning Commission hearing , by the senior pastor, as being spoken due to the refreshingly honest  pastor’s drug rehab, an unusually pathetic attempt at humor in a public hearing. 

Even sadder, Zak witnessed the uncontrolled guffaws from Cornerstone members bonding in the halls. (Note to the Cornerstone hallway boys;  it wasn’t funny. And if you thought so, you need to get out to a comedy club now and then).

Third, in this case, Cornerstone has grown to its’ current size without having to provide a vision of their plans in Wildomar. They have enlarged by  building in increments, always  staying under the threshold of any trigger of a costly Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) while submitting to the distant County Planning Commission.  An EIR might require Cornerstone to consider other solutions to their parking dilemma, rather than carving up a natural hillside, the spoil of which will have to be hauled over our roads for two, long and insufferable years.

Wildomar Magazine challenges the Wildomar City Council to take this opportunity to have Cornerstone divulge their longterm plans and let the  impacted members of the Wildomar community  weigh in, by upholding the appeal.  The cumulative size of the church demands an EIR.

Cornerstone’s leadership could make this easy on Wildomar and any members of Cornerstone serving on the council, (thereby saving them from a conflict of loyalties and fiduciary duties), by offering,  this evening, to volunteer an EIR, which could tackle all of the current, relevant issues, including traffic, road widening and traffic lights, and the impact on Wildomar’s Dark Skies/ Bright Stars concept. Wildomar Magazine would support such an offer.

It would be the fair “and” Christian thing to do. And an appropriate  ”cornerstone” to grow larger in Wildomar.

Thanks To All Veterans…

                   

……WELCOME HOME, BROTHER

Viet Nam veteran Zak will be attending the City of Wildomar’s Veterans Day celebration at the beautiful Wildomar Cemetery at 3PM.  That’s 1500 hours for those still on patrol. Or, six bells for those still at sea.

Join with us in honoring veterans on this day.

Comments can be made to Zak at zakturango@excite.com.  He’s already in his bunker.

 

Zak, The World’s Best Boyfriend Blogger…

….AS MAYOR WHINES ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE’S PERSONAL LIFE

In a sad moment for Wildomar politics, Mayor Scott Farnam publicly complained (during the norming session) about Wildomar Magazine’s Zak Turango’s impact on his political tenure as mayor, referencing a “boyfriend blogger.” Somehow, he deems WM’s parody and satire, a rich American political tradition,  as unfair.

Farnam needs to remember that the real power in this community is held in the hands of elected officials and a three minute speech during public comments at a city council meeting is a pale comparison to the effect of a mayor’s comments to a newspaper reporter.

Thus, Wildomar Magazine attempts to level the playing field (without moving 700,000 cu. yards of earth), but it is effective only if it entertains. 

Indulge me while I insert a readers recent comment to Wildomar Magazine, as follows:

“I assume my congrats go to Zak Turango? Excellent material, very informative and great presentation. I shall attend future city meetings. The five aligned as I presumed from the election rhetoric. I live directly across from Cornerstone, which honestly looks like a large prison complex every night with huge flood lights everywhere. Destroyed my entire 21-yr-old view to the east.”

Mayor Scott, you would be wise to recognize, and represent, the interests of this Wildomar resident as well. Instead, you will likely continue to pander to the desperately hoped for votes to be found in Cornerstone’s pews and soccer fields.

Was it only a year ago when First Mayor Bob “Wedgie” Cashman was writhing under the spotlight of WM? Bob has since turned out to be a pretty good councilman, but way too thin-skinned to be  mayor.  Now it appears that Farnam is suffering from the same condition.

Get over it, Scott.  You’re beginning to remind Zak of Lake Elsinore’s worst mayor ever, Pam Brinley.  Brinley, after suffering the well-deserved stings of Elsinore Magazine, refused to run for re-election (she would have been re-elected) but she could not handle EM’s commentary and humorous graphics.

Your own blogging provides much fodder for Wildomar Magazine.  “Adult” dinners in Tijuana (one can only imagine) touted from Facebook. Or, for your consideration, the following:

Scott Farnam.. is worth $1719 on Own Your Friends!

Buy Scott Farnam.. for $1924!

The above ad is taken from MySpace. 

 

Res ipsa loquator. That’s Latin for” the thing speaks for itself.”

I wouldn’t recommend paying that much, however.

Zak doesn’t need to resort to fiction.  Mayor Farnam provides plenty  of material for an online satire magazine. 

Just like  Brinley.

Let He (Or She) Who Is Without Sin…

…..CAST THE FIRST SHOT GLASS

Zak was saddened by reading newspaper accounts of the arrest of Lake Elsinore city councilman, and good friend, Thomas Buckley for allegedly Driving While Intoxicated (“DWI”).  Without excusing him, if the allegations are true, he is still entitled to the full range of legal options before anyone should jump to conclusions or to make demands for his resignation from the city council (Steve Manos, your comments in the paper reveals your unhealthy ambitions. Your comment reveals your political naivete, since a Buckley resignation eliminates the recall election. Be careful what you ask for).

Which of you haven’t gotten behind the wheel of your car, impaired by beer, wine, a cell phone, or simple diminished capacity. Never a valid excuse but still a simple reality. This should be a “teaching  moment,” to use a current phrase

If the allegations are proven or conceded to, I want to go on record as supporting my friend Tom, for whatever it’s worth and without qualification.

Having followed Elsinore politics since the ’90s, perhaps stirring the pot  myself once or twice while writing for Elsinore Magazine, I am a contemporaneous witness to the fact  that Thomas Buckley stands head and shoulders above any former or current elected official in terms of honesty and ethics, recall elections be damned.

In my fully informed, yet rarely humble opinion, Elsinore may not be deserving of Buckley’s continued representation and it’s time for Elsinorians to voice their support of Councilman Buckley in the face of the recall election or run the risk of losing a fine public servant.

Lake Elsinore will get to have the city council they need or the one they deserve.  It started (Post Pape and Brinley) and stops with Thomas Buckley.

 

Wildomar Thanks Cornerstone For All of The….

….BENEFITS AND BLESSINGS THEY PROVIDE

Now and in the future.

After reading of the “necessary” removal of  up to 700,000 cubic yards of natural mountain for their Wildomar parking lot project, Wildomar Magazine rejects the City planning staff conclusion of “no significant impacts” as a result of Cornerstone’s huge mining operation in order to create more parking spaces. If moving 700,000 cu. yds. of dirt over Wildomar’s roads isn’t significant, then what, pray tell, would staff consider significant?

Will  this be the future view of Monte Vista after 116 daily dump truck loads, times 5 days per week, times 4  weeks per month, times 25 months? (Zak will generously do the math for the new real estate agents just out of licensing school: it works out to up to 58,000 truck trips. Brokers have their own “business” calculators to use. It’s the one with the 6% button worn smooth).

WM believes that Cornerstone should be made to fund an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) in order for the Wildomar City Council to honestly consider this project in light of Menifee’s appeal as well as well as that of nearby residents.

WM predicts that any positive public sentiment and all fuzzy feelings about Cornerstone and their promoters will be gone after this project is finished.

Guess What The Planning Commission….

……FOUND?

On Wednesday evening, the Wildomar Planning Commission said a collective “no” to the commercial development at Almond and Bundy Canyon where a bunch of office trailers were described as a ” modular” building.

Wildomar Magazine wants to congratulate three commissioners for raising the bar on development of Wildomar’s limited commercial land.  Perhaps the applicant will return with a better plan, one that will enhance Wildomar’s northern gateway to the city.

Wildomar’s future looks a little brighter today, doesn’t it?

With The District Issue Resolved….

NEXT UP……CHOOSING A NEW MAYOR

It’s amazing that Scott Farnam’s term as mayor of Wildomar is nearly over. And now comes a dicey problem.  Who will replace him? As a public service, and, as usual, at no charge to the public, Zak Turango will lay out the choices for your contemplation only, since only the five sitting council members get to vote for mayor.  We are all mere  non-voting observers.

First and most obvious, is Mayor Pro Tempore Bridgette Moore,  pronounced “pro tem,” a latin phrase meaning “for the time being.” She was the second highest vote-getter to Wildomar’s First Mayor Bob Cashman’s highest vote count. However, this time last year, Council member Marsha Swanson made a surprise motion, nominating Farnam for Mayor. A quick second and a 4-1 vote made Farnam the Mayor. (Cashman nominated and voted for himself, which was unsuccessful). 

Nevertheless, in a world where substantive qualifications may not matter,  Moore publically admitted that  land use issues were not her “forte” (French for “strong point”),  a world where her soulish connection to the single most powerful political entity in Wildomar, Cornerstone Community Church,  does not give  residents sufficient pause,  Mayor Pro Tempore Moore appears to be in line to be the next mayor.  Just because it ’s her turn.

Second, neither Cashman and Farnam, having already served, would dare be so boorish as to fantasize another term while others have yet to serve as mayor.

Third, Council member Marsha Swanson has yet to ascend to the center of the dais. Despite her real estate background and support for most developer issues brought before the council, such as a recent “aye” vote to move forward on reducing Developer Impact Fees (“DIF”) by half, if she so desires, it is likely that she would have a second and two votes (besides her own) to be the next mayor.

Fourth, Council member Sheryl Ade, although well qualified to lead, given her experience and knowledge of land use issues, and her lack of obligation to any influence group or private interest, will not be selected to be the Mayor. In fact, she was told that she has committed “political suicide” for trying to get the Cornerstone project before the entire council.  In contrast, go to Cornerstone’s website and download the 10-11-09 sermon by the Reverend  Ron Armstrong, where he applauds Farnam, Moore and Swanson for “knowing the facts” when they refused to further discuss the project, forcing an appeal by Menifee and local residents. It seems to Wildomar Magazine that missing out on the “praise” from Cornerstone’s leadership may be a good thing.

Selection will take place in December and I wanted to get WM readers prepared in thought for what is about to take place. If only for the amusement value in the process and outcome.

Comments will be permitted, below.