The Mission Valley Planning Group on Wednesday put off taking a position on the Morris Cerullo Legacy International Center, asking the project's architect to return with more details on the project's environmental and traffic impacts.
The planning group listened to a presentation from architect Mike Harrah, who described the project as a training center for the "nationals" televangelist Morris Cerullo has reached through his ministry.
"He wants to carry on his legacy by having these nationals come from around the world and learn, and continue the ministry for many years to come," Harrah said.
Cerullo, who has lived in San Diego for decades, wants to build the Legacy International Center at 875 Hotel Circle South, currently home to the Mission Valley Resort hotel, a restaurant and a liquor store. The center's 18 acres would house timeshares, retail space, a spa, a restaurant and various religious attractions.
Residents who attended Wednesday's meeting at the Mission Valley Library repeated concerns over how much traffic the project would attract — particularly on the adjacent Bachman Place, which connects to UCSD Medical Center. A UCSD representative wrote a letter to city planners last month saying the hospital relies on Bachman Place for emergency vehicles access.
The planning group ultimately voted to delay recommending the project to the San Diego City Council, opting to wait for the project's environmental impact report to be finalized.
A meeting of the Mission Valley Planning Group Design Advisory Board on Monday ended in a similar result. Members expressed concern over the project's design — one called its use of arches and Mansard roofs "boring" — but voted to approve the project's design, contingent on Harrah returning to present some alternatives.
