3B Public Hearing 2007 0507 - Laserfiche WebLink

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LA W OFFICE PETER MACDONALD 400 MAIN STREET, SUITE 210 PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA 94566-7371 (925) 462-0191 FAX (925) 462-0404 pmacdonald@macdonaldlaw.net April 9, 2007 Planning Commission City of San Leandro 835 East 14th Street San Leandro, CA 94577 Suhj cct: Faith .Fellowship Application for Assembly Overlay Rezoning 1460U Catalina Street Ronoerable Chair Perras and Members of the Commission, ]n March 200(} the Faith Fellowship congreg~tion entered into a purchase agreement to buy a 3.56 acre property al14600 Catalina Street. The purchase agreement allowed many months for due diligence and processing any necessary City permits. The site and building at 14600 Catalina Street is ideal for the proposed church use: The 3.56 acre parcel has a 46,080 sq. ft. building and t 88 parking spaces, with excellent access to major arterials in every direction. (Site plan, Attachment 1) Faith Fellowship, with a congregation of over 1000 souls, has outgrown its current location in a residential neighborhood. Peak parking on Sunday mornings overflows for blocks around, to the detriment oftheir residential neighbors. Church elders immediately met with the City Manager and Planning Director to ask direction on how to proceed. The City officials told the Church that the industrial districts did not allow churches. Several similar assembly uses aTe permitted by conditional use permh in industrial districts such as commercial recrealion and entertainment. Following direction from City staff, Faith Fellowship applied way last May 18 for rezoning to the lL (Industrial Limited) district so a conditional use permit could be processed to approve the proposed Church lIse. City staff realized tha1limiting churches to residential zones had the effect of prohibiting large cungregations like Faith Fellowship from locating in San Leandro, in "iolation of good planning practice and Federal law. The City then began an 11 month process to create WI assembly overlay (AO) district. The AO District has now been adopted, but docs not include the applicant's property. While the City process dragged on, after 9 months in contract, Fuith Fello,vship was forced to dose escnnv on 14600 Catalina Drive in Januury 2007.