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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes January 26, 2015 Page 3 1 Ms. Joanne Griffin, 3044 Croft, requested more information about other potential businesses 2 or activities in the building particularly related to clinics. 4 Ms. Nicki Carlson, on behalf of Abu-Huraira Islamic Center, explained that she manages the 5 building and they rented 50 parking spaces this winter to Cedar Towing because they have 6 been struggling to pay the building costs but the building tenants did not like it so they have 7 terminated the lease with Cedar Towing. She stated that they will abide by all City laws 8 related to overflow parking and if anyone visits the building and parks in a no parking zone, 9 they should be towed. She stated this is their first time owning a building and figuring out the 10 best use of the building as well as ingress/egress issues, etc., and they have reached out to all 11 the major health systems to see if they want to rent a floor in the building, adding that any 12 clinic would be open to the public. She stated there was a misunderstanding about a wellness 13 facility and there will be no wellness facility for tenants. She apologized to the neighbors 14 about their concerns with the parking lot and encouraged residents to call her if they have 15 questions or concerns. 16 17 Commissioner Bartel asked when the religious assembly would have the highest demand for 18 parking and whether that would overlap with any of the business tenants. He also asked about 19 current occupancy of the building. 20 21 Ms. Carlson stated there are approximately 300 parking spots and they have never come close 22 to using 100 parking spots. She explained that every Friday around 1:15-1:30 p.m., Muslims 23 are called to pray together so they would start parking around 12:30-1:00 and then the cars 24 would be gone by 3:00 p.m. and this parking would not interfere with the daily comings and 25 goings in the lot. She stated they could also mark the parking lot to limit parking past the first 26 10 or 20 spots for prayers on Fridays. She added she could not imagine that the mosque 27 would ever fill up and if it does, then they would restripe the parking lot. She stated the long 28 building is 100% full and the tower building is almost empty, with the first floor about 2/3 full 29 and the 2"d and 3.d floors are empty. She stated that tenants include IT work, staffing services, 30 engineers, an organization that trains mental health providers, a medical transportation 31 company, and cab companies. 32 33 Commissioner Foster asked if they anticipate any parking issues with Friday prayers when the 34 building is 100% occupied. 35 36 Ms. Carlson stated she could not imagine the Friday prayers filling the parking lot. 37 38 Commissioner Gondorchin asked about occupancy limits. 39 40 City Planner Johnson advised the applicant stated in its 2012 submittal a total of 261, 41 however, the Fire Marshal will need to review the rooms allocated for the specific use to 42 determine occupancy and compliance with the Fire Code. 43 44 Chairperson Crone referenced a letter submitted for the public hearing and included as part of 45 the public record. 46