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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 27,2012 Page 8 Commission Chair would not tell them why they were pulled from the agenda. He indicated it was pointed out to them in a letter that on March 13 1h , the City Council passed an ordi nan ce based on a March 6 memo from the City Attorney that it had been proposed to consider amending the Zoning Code w ith respect to allowing assembly halls as conditional uses in the City'S Light Industrial and Commercial Zoning Districts. He stated he did not know at the time that la st October, a Christian church came to the City and on October 25, 2011 , this church went through a concept review and the Planning Commission recommended approval for an assembly area in the Light Industrial zone . He recited portions of the City Council meeting minutes and indicated that in October, the City Co uncil allowed a religious institution that had paid its $130 filing fee to go through the process and the City Council did not pass a moratorium at that time. He asked if the C ity Council will now pass a resolution to consider his client 's CUP application and referenced the Zoning Code which allows assembly areas as a conditional use in the Light Industrial area. He also referenced the Religious Land Use Act and felt the City 'S actions were questionable. He discussed the City 's criteria for conditional uses and indicated that the proposed use is not a mosque but an assembly area for prayer. He again asked the City Council whether it will allow this CUP to go forward now and not try to run out the clock on the 60 days. Khada Kader Abdi , 1249 St. Anthony Avenue, St. Paul , appeared before the City Council and asked the City Council to approve the CUP. He stated the Abu Huraira Islamic Center is not a mosque and will be a prayer center in a space that is not being used now. He urged the City Council to approve their CUP for the sake of diversity, for the sake of strengthening their communities, for fulfilling their dreams, and building a brighter future for their children. He felt their center would contribute positively to the Village of St. Anthony. He stated they continue to be law ab idin g c iti zens who should enjoy the same rights and privileges as others . He expressed thanks to all who came here tonight and others who have showed their support. Michael Bird, 3416 Edward Street, appeared before the C ity Council and expressed concern that the property would somehow end up off the tax rolls after the purchase and the City would lose about $80,000 per year in real estate taxes. He felt that taxes are too high in the City and was concerned that taxes will go higher as a result of this purchase. Bill Flemer, appeared before the City Council and stated he has been practicing Islam since 1974. He agreed with Mr. Peters's and Mr. Abdi 's statements and stated that he would like to see St. Anthony include itself on the list to not be biased and that is willing to show people its intentions are nothing but good . He stated that the Muslims just want a sma ll place to pray and they will rent out the other areas in the building. Jennifer Nelson, 3329 Belden Drive, appeared before the City Council and stated that one of the things she lik ed about St. Anthony was the small town feel and that it is a welcoming place in the middle of such a large area. She feared that St. Anthony would gain a reputation that betrays the we lcom in g feeling she had when she moved here and wanted to officially state that she would welcome Muslim neighbors to join and be a part of the community . She stated there is so much division now, politically, culturally, and religiously, and urged the City Council to ask itself what kind of community it wants to be and would this proposed use get the City on the path to becoming that community. She felt that approving this CUP would be a great step in that direction.