CC PACKET 06262012 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

6City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 12, 2012 Page 6 1 Mayor Faust stated that approximately 10% of the building would be tax exempt and if the entire 2 building were to be tax exempt, it would require another CIDP acted on by the City Council, 3 including a public hearing. He indicated that no one can live in this building and the City has 4 strict ordinances regarding where people can live. 5 6 Mr. George Kaczor, 3404 32nd Avenue NE, appeared before the City Council and asked if this 7 matter could be voted on as a referendum. He asked if the City can require a written guarantee 8 from Abu-Huraira Islamic Center that the building will continue on the tax rolls for the next 50 9 years. He requested information about the congregants and where they are coming from. 10 11 Mayor Faust stated a referendum is not reasonable and the City Council must vote on this matter 12 tonight. He opined that requiring a written guarantee from Abu-Huraira Islamic Center that the 13 building will continue on the tax rolls and then giving them a CUP was akin to bribery. He 14 stated the City does not check where congregants come from for the rest of the churches in the 15 City and all other churches have congregants that live in other cities. 16 17 Ms. Marie Michaeloff, 3604 Downers Drive NE, appeared before the City Council and stated she 18 had a problem with the CUP. She questioned whether the Abu-I-luraira Islamic Center has 19 bought more land for expansion in this area. She indicated she was appalled to find out what 20 they can do with this type of CIDP and questioned the need for this when they are only talking 21 about a prayer meeting once a week. 22 23 Mayor Faust noted there was not a large crowd on October 25, 2011, when the City Council 24 denied a CUP request in the LI district for a Christian church. 25 26 Mr. Abdisalam Adam, 5708 Jefferson Street NE. Fridley, MN 55432, appeared before the City 27 Council and stated there is no difference between democratic values and Islamic values and felt 28 that fears will be overcome if everyone comes together. I -le stated the Muslim community is not 29 new to the Twin Cities and stated this building fits their needs and they want what is best for 30 their children. He felt it was a question of fairness and the First Amendment allows freedom of 31 religion. He hoped the City Council would move forward to approve the Islamic Center CUP. 32 33 Mr. Ted Holsten, 3213 Townview Avenue NE, appeared before the City Council and stated a 34 few years ago, he approached the City about a small church and was denied. He felt this use 35 would erode the City's industrial area by doing away with the tax base in favor of a tax exempt 36 use which affects everyone in the City. He stated that only 10-12% of the building would be tax 37 exempt, however, once that happens, a precedent has been set and the City would be hard 38 pressed to deny it next time. 39 40 Ms. Margoe Hermes, 2935 Old Highway 8, appeared before the City Council and expressed 41 concern about the CUP. She also expressed concern that there will be upwards of 200 cars 42 possibly twice a day in a residential area and asked if the City has done a traffic study to study 43 the impact of this traffic in a residential area. 44