PC 080807 - Laserfiche WebLink

with good schools and families. She was very concerned that if this project were to be built, she would be looking at a dome out of her bedroom window. She noted that it did not matter to her what use the building had, but that she was completely opposed to a 53-foot dome next to her home. Atoosa Yekon spoke in support of this project. She noted that she was a host and producer of a satellite television show and noted that Sufism had a positive impact on her life. She noted that the classes taught them to concentrate while they drove and that many drivers are distracted while driving, making them less safe. She noted that traffic was a problem in Pleasanton because it was a growing community. Steve Williams spoke in support of this project. He noted that he was the landlord for the M.T.O. congregation in Pleasant Hill and that they had been exemplary tenants for the past ten years. He noted there were no traffic, parking, or noise issues and believed this was a good site for the proposed project. He believed the design of the building and the landscaping would be an asset to the City. He submitted a letter in support of the project. Oscar Yousefi spoke in support of this project and noted that he was a structural engineer. He understood the community’s concerns about the traffic impacts and noted that the use would not impact peak-hour traffic because their traffic uses would be during off-peak hours. Sairaj Pakkam spoke in support of this project. He agreed that there should be no discrimination of any kind but was concerned by what he considered to be the twisting of the facts. He noted that the report stated that the proposed project was a church, but when he read through the website, it did not mention a church or meditation. He requested that the City follow the proper process to understand what the building was; he inquired why an Islamic Learning Center had been called a church. Parastou Youssefi spoke in support of this project. She noted that she recently received a graduate degree in public policy from Harvard University and that she had been greatly influenced by the M.T.O. center in many positive ways. She believed the establishment of this center in Pleasanton would allow her to work as a youth mentor so she could contribute to the community. Gina Kaiper noted that she was a strong believer in the freedom of religion and that she had been appalled by the flier she received. She was very concerned about the traffic issues on her road during peak and non-peak hours and that she has had numerous close calls. She believed it would be unconscionable for the City to approve any project that would add more traffic onto that road without a traffic study which should be followed by improvements to the traffic situation. Gus Enderlin noted that he often shopped in Pleasanton and was concerned about the height and visual impacts of a 52-foot-high building from I-580. He believed the dome would be a distraction from the freeway. He commended the audience members on an orderly hearing. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES August 8, 2007 Page 12 of 24