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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes July 17, 2012 Page 4 Motion carried 6 -0. 4 Chair Heinis indicated this item will be on the July 24, 2012, City Council agenda. 6 VII. CONCEPT REVIEWS. None. 10 VIII. OTHER BUSINESS. 11 12 VIII. Review Proposed Changes to the City Code regarding Regulation of Assemblies 13 Meeting Lodges and Convention Halls. 14 15 Interim City Planner Corkle presented the potential changes to the City Code following 16 completion of the study regarding regulation of assemblies, meeting lodges and convention halls. 17 She explained the City Council endorsed Option 3 from the study, which allows all assembly 18 uses, both religious and non - religious, within the Commercial Zoning District but eliminates all 19 such uses from the Light Industrial District. She stated that Option 3 provides an alternative to 20 those seeking places for assembly within the City and treats all assemblies equally within 21 specific zoning districts as required under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons 22 Act (RLUIPA). She stated terms such as "church," "temple," and "synagogue" are not currently 23 defined in the City Code and terms such as "religious institution" or "places of worship" are 24 generally used for religious uses and assembly is used to describe more non - secular uses. She 25 recited the proposed definitions and noted that staff recommends changing the word "church" to 26 "religious institution" so that the City Code is neutral regarding denominations for religious 27 worship. She stated the terms "religious institution" or "place of worship" are intended for a tax - 28 exempt building where persons regularly assemble for religious worship and this definition 29 would not allow for encroachment of secular activities within the district. She advised churches 30 are a permitted conditional use within the R -1 District and this language in the Code has been 31 modified to match the term "religious institution" or "place of worship." She reviewed permitted 32 uses within the Commercial District, which allows for assembly, lodge or convention halls and 33 noted this section was modified to match the terms in the definitions section. She stated the 34 sections of the City Code regarding the Light Industrial District have been modified to remove 35 any mention of assembly, meeting lodge or convention hall as permitted conditional uses. She 36 advised the revised definitions and changes to the City Code are intended to show clear intent for 37 the various land uses allowed in the Residential, Commercial, and Industrial districts and the 38 proposed changes bring the City Code into compliance with RLUIPA. 39 40 She stated that the term "public assembly" is not currently defined in the City Code and the 41 recommended definition will state "the concourse or meeting together of a number of persons at 42 the same place. The event is of a limited duration." 43 44 Commissioner Niccum requested further information regarding permitted uses in the Light 45 Industrial District and noted there are two union halls within that district where meetings are held 46 a couple of times per month which would result in an assembly.