The council's about-face comes as the city also faces a federal lawsuit filed by the church, alleging that the city violated their religious freedom.

A controversial proposed church in Del Cerro was restored Tuesday night after previously being denied. After a three-hour meeting, the San Diego City Council voted 5-4 to approve the 54,476-square-foot All Peoples Church only a year after rejecting it on land-use grounds.

A City Council member exchanged barbs with a community group stemming from a public confrontation a day earlier.