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Chair Nagler said when the Commission was talking about the CUP for the Masons and said <br /> he had a different recollection of the Commission's conversation. He recalled trying to make a <br /> point that whatever recommendation or action they were taking was going to be precedential <br /> for the next occupant, and hearing from his fellow Commissioners that in fact every new <br /> occupant may have a different intention for the building and is welcomed by City ordinance to <br /> go through the CUP process and that CUPs are decided upon based on their merits, needs <br /> and balancing of the community and interests. The new occupant now has a different intention <br /> for the use of the building and therefore, based upon the Commission's prior commentary, it is <br /> completely appropriate for the Commission to revisit the CUP whether or not the neighborhood <br /> believes that a prior decision made should be one made forever. <br /> This is a land use activity permitting question, but it is undeniable that the applicant practices a <br /> particular religion in the building and therefore is to be considered on that basis, and, that as a <br /> religious organization it is appropriate that this organization would want to have an early <br /> childhood education program and childcare as part of their religious teachings. <br /> He also believes it is not appropriate for a governmental entity to say that an appropriate way <br /> to teach children is to keep them indoors; as such he supports an outdoor play area. Given <br /> there is history with the neighbors' objections, he was supportive of the compromise that it be <br /> located on the side of the building facing St. Clare's Church. <br /> He visited the Chabad center around 6PM on evening and said there was a congregation of <br /> teenagers gathered in front of St. Clare's on the outdoor lawn. They were being respectful and <br /> pleasant and he would find it hard to imagine any neighbor looking out on this would call the <br /> police department. Again, he was not sure why the Commission believes it is appropriate to <br /> put restrictions and assume bad intent or behavior on a building that is right next door <br /> particularly if the loitering is to occur on the front side of the building which is not near <br /> neighbors. <br /> Therefore, his point is that he thinks the Commission needs to approach this application from a <br /> perspective of reasonableness and appropriateness, and take into account that neighbors <br /> have history with the occupants of the building; that the separation from the back of this <br /> building and neighbors is a shorter distance than is typical between religious institutions and <br /> other neighbors so restrictions are appropriate. <br /> He was supportive of childcare, supported the number specified in the staff recommendation <br /> for outdoor events, did not have much confidence in a process that sees how things go over <br /> the next year and come back and discuss it all over again, since he wasn't sure these <br /> neighbors and this occupant have the capacity to hold such a conversation. He would rather <br /> the Commission make a reasonable decision today regarding the number of outdoor activities <br /> possible and then see if there are problems. If there are problems, there are remedies. <br /> Regarding smaller events, Chair Nagler referred to challenges with respect to the use of the <br /> buffer, as there is no contemplation garden specifically included in the proposal. He questioned <br /> if it would be possible to approve the CUP, while reserving the decision as to use of the buffer <br /> area, to be brought back for a subsequent action if the applicant were to come up with a <br /> proposal for this area, If the applicant does not propose a specific use, it should be maintained <br /> as an unspecified area or by definition, a buffer. <br /> EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, June 27, 2018 Page 12 of 15 <br />