Laserfiche WebLink
BACKGROUND <br /> On April 25, 2018 the Planning Commission held a public hearing for applications from <br /> Rabbi Raleigh Resnick of Chabad of the Tri-Valley (the Chabad) to operate a religious <br /> institution with a childcare/preschool, and for site modifications including the installation <br /> of a playground and a terrace for outdoor activities. At the conclusion of public <br /> comment, the Planning Commission requested additional information and suggested <br /> that the applicant conduct additional outreach, including a neighborhood meeting, and <br /> continued the hearing. On June 27, 2018, the Planning Commission held the continued <br /> public hearing, and after detailed discussion on issues raised by both the applicant, <br /> neighbors, and others, approved the project on a 4:1 vote. <br /> Two appeals of the project were subsequently filed: 1) by Michael and Darlene Miller, <br /> neighbors of the project, based on concerns that the project, as approved, did not <br /> adequately address issues of noise and nuisance caused by various outdoor activities <br /> and operation of the proposed preschool; and 2) by the applicant, the Chabad, based <br /> on a suggestion that the conditions of approval were unduly burdensome, and <br /> inconsistent with the federal Religious and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). <br /> Please see Attachment 2, August 21, 2018 Council Agenda Report, for detailed <br /> information related to the Chabad's proposal, the appeals, and the Planning <br /> Commission hearings. <br /> The City Council heard the appeals on August 21, 2018. On the day of the hearing, the <br /> two appellants submitted some additional proposed amendments to the conditions, <br /> based on discussions between the two parties, although disagreement on several items <br /> still remained. Due to the lateness of the submittal of the new information, and the <br /> continued lack of agreement between the appellants, the Council, after hearing public <br /> comment, continued the matter to a date uncertain, requesting that staff analyze the <br /> proposals and bring back a recommendation for possible revisions to the conditions of <br /> approval. Subsequently, a letter was submitted to the City by St. Clare's Episcopal <br /> Church, raising concerns about the consistency of the Chabad's proposal with a <br /> previously-approved master plan for expansion of the church, among other issues. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> This agenda report supplements the August 21, 2018 agenda report. It focuses on the <br /> comments and requests for information from the City Council made at the August 21 <br /> hearing, including further analysis of the appellants' requested modifications to the <br /> proposed conditions, which reflect those included in the Planning Commission's <br /> approval. It also addresses the September 2018 comments submitted by St. Clare's <br /> Episcopal Church. <br /> Appellant-Suggested Modifications to Conditions of Approval <br /> The suggested revisions to the Conditions of Approval approved by the Planning <br /> Commission and presented to the City Council at the August 21 meeting ("August 21 <br /> Conditions" or "Prior Draft Conditions") submitted by the Millers and the Chabad <br /> Page 3 of 14 <br />