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Zahra .l"v1-urt:a.z:a" 1490 East Ciate"V'Vay #237" noted that she attended Hart .l"v1iddle School and VV"as a..I1 eighth grade G.A. TE stu.dent. She appreciated the educational system in Pleasanton and the diversity and freedom in the United States. She supported the addition of the Islamic Center" vv-hich VV"ould alloVV" her to practice her religiou-s freedom. She belie-ved that attending the Center "V\Tould allo"V\T l\I1uslim youths to understand their faith better as "V'Vell as to allo"V'V them to better ex.plain it to TloTl-Iv1:uslims. She Tlot:ed that the Center vv-ould also serve as a social" cultural" education.al" and religious center Tor the commnnity. .A.sfia SaddiqlJi", 5502 Serenity Terrace" urged the Commission to appro-ve the conditional use permit and noted that the community "V\Tas in need of an. Islamic center. She presently dri-ves to Fremont so that she and her family may attend congregation prayers. She has not been able to do that very often" and her children often pray at home by themselves. She noted that many of her I\Iluslim neighbors have experienced the same problem. She believed that l\I1uslims a..nd Christians alike cherished the virtue of respect for their neighbors. Carolee Gearhart Hariri" 7596 Hillsdale Drive" noted that she had become closely acqu-ainted "V\Tith the Islamic Center of Livermore in the last tvv"o years_ She noted that mosques VV"ere very quiet and that she admired their community -very much_ She had attended a..n open house at that mosque and had organized a potlu-ck vvith her church to become acqu.ainted "V'Vith the mosque. She noted that larger events" such as those held during Ramadan" "V'Vere held in a larger hall to avoid parking problems. Syed .l\I[-urt:uza" 46 Sparrovv- Street" Livermore" spoke in support of this item. He noted that the Pleasan.ton 1'V'1uslim commrmity had atten.ded the Livermore mosque as "V'Vell as other mosques in the area. He belie-ved that the time had come for them to have their OVVll place of"V'Vorship. He noted that he vvas a ci-vilrraffic engin.eer and VV"as faIrl.iliar "V'Vith the decision-making process vv-ith respect to this issue_ He n.oted that there had been no parking impacts on dovvntovvn Li-vermore from his mosque. Eric .l"v1eter" .rv1.in.ist:er" Un.itarian UI1iversalist Church" President of Tri-Valley Interfaith Cormcil" 2356 Palm A-venue" Li-vermore" spoke in support: of this item. He n.oted that many residen.ts of Li vermore ""ere not a"V'Vare of the mosque in tovvn. and added that they "V'Vorshiped peacefully. He supported the appro-val of a use permit vvithou.t an expiration date. TFIE PUBLIC FIEARING VV AS CLOSEI>_ Chairperson. Arkin. supported the item and looked fO:r\Nard to the opening of the mosque. Commissioner Kameny recalled the letter from Chris Pearson vvith respect to restriping the parking lot in the event of a parkin.g problem_ In response to his inquiry regarding the possible leasing of Unit C" lV1:r. Iserson confirmed that "V\Then staff analyzed the space" staff created a parking demand based on vvhat the Code vv-ould require for that space. For the proposed use" the parking requirement vvou-Id be one space per 300 square feet of PLANNING COl'Vll'VlISSION" l'VlINlJTES November 12,2003 Page 6