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Amy Statham <br /> From:Greg O'Connor <br /> Sent:Saturday,July 28, 2018 11:12 <br /> To:Jerry Thorne Kathy Narum ;Jerry Pentin; Karla Brown Arne Olson; Gerry Beaudin ; Ellen Clark> <br /> Subject:Chabad CUP Application (Appeal) <br /> Mayor and City Council Members, <br /> I know the City Council understands the reasons for the original Conditions of Approval placed on the Masons <br /> for this specific building in 1977; and the City Council was correct to unanimously reapply those conditions in <br /> 2016. It is wrong for anyone to now assert that the Chabad is different from the Masons and should be given <br /> leniency on the use of the outdoor space for events, even religious events. <br /> The original CUP was approved in 1977, long before any noise issues began with the Masons sometime <br /> around 2006. <br /> Saint Clare's Church was approved and built (including the parking lot)prior to 1977, and was the only facility <br /> anticipated for this property. In 1977, when Saint Clare's wanted to split off this acre of land for sale to the <br /> Masons, the Planning Commission was very concerned about an additional 8,000 sq. ft. building (and the <br /> number of people that could use such space) squeezed in between the existing parking lot and the neighborhood <br /> to the north. The Masons were not known to be a raucous group in 1977, yet the Planning Commission still <br /> insisted on such conditions as: <br /> * NO doors or windows on the north or west sides of the building, except one solid door on the north side <br /> for emergency egress only. <br /> * NO outdoor use on the north or west sides of the building (the buffer zone). Any outdoor activity was to <br /> be focused on the southern side of the building (the front door and parking lot). <br /> * NO amplified music at any time. <br /> The original CUP was to run with the land, for ANY user. Today's discussions are not directed to any religious <br /> organization, and certainly not a Jewish organization in particular, but would be the same for ANY user wishing <br /> to occupy/use this building. <br /> The Chabad fully understood the restrictions on this particular property long before their purchase. They had <br /> also met with city staff several times and were fully informed. They gambled with this purchase, apparently <br /> hoping to get what they wanted. They should, instead, have searched for a property that would have provided <br /> them with the uses they wanted/needed. <br /> My 2 cents, and hence my sole vote to deny this CUP application, as amended by the other planning <br /> commissioners. <br /> Greg O'Connor <br /> 1 <br />