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Board of Zoning Adjustments Regular Meeting <br />Minute No. 2007-23 <br />December 6, 2007 <br />Page 11 of 16 <br />when decided on a separate but equal basis. The Board had the right to decide <br />this was discrimination and this was a reasonable location for this kind of use. <br />• Member Daly asked if there was any case authority where assembly uses had <br />been defined to include all of the areas that had just been mentioned. <br />The courts have said the way this religious use was being treated was <br />discriminatory compared to the way a previous use at the same location had been <br />treated. The law he had been quoting was called RLUIPA. Fundamental <br />principles were ignored in the way the Assembly Overlay District was adopted <br />and it would be addressed. <br />• Member Shields read the Conditional Use that concerned Assembly and <br />Entertainment activity. With church services occurring every Sunday, he <br />questioned how it could fall under Entertainment and Assembly use. <br />Entertainment was allowed to happen on scheduled days three or more times <br />during a calendar year, which would include the church. MDL had assembled in <br />the building on this site. <br />City Attorney Stuart clarified the difference between the Building Codes and the <br />Zoning Codes. The City had recently adopted the 2007 International Building Code with <br />certain modifications. Separate and apart from that was the Zoning Code, which was a <br />separate document from the Building Code. The purpose of the Building Code was <br />different from the purpose of the Zoning Code and two different functions were served. <br />While they both had terms, such as, Assembly, Assembly Building, Assembly use, for the <br />purpose of this hearing, the CUP application and what was being considered, the decision <br />was whether this particular use fit within the San Leandro Zoning Code. The purpose of <br />the Building Code was to provide guidance as to how buildings were built and certain <br />standards were in place as to the occupation of certain buildings according to their use. <br />The purpose of the Zoning Code was to establish some order in how the City was <br />arranged and where uses were allowed in a particular city. In doing so, the Zoning Code <br />included definitions of different types of uses to aide in determining which uses were <br />appropriate for which zones. <br />Chair Goldt opened the public hearing. <br />Synthia Barajas, 432 Breed Avenue, did not agree with the appearance that the Board <br />being "bullied in the name of Christianity." However, she encouraged the Board to allow <br />this church to move out of the neighborhood. It was a nuisance and annoying, and she <br />believed it had a detrimental effect on the surrounding businesses. <br />Carolyn Reams, local resident and church member, stated that she was the first black <br />employee with the City in 1971. San Leandro could not receive federal funds "because <br />they were discriminating," so she was hired. She felt the church had been treated like <br />trash and the members "were watching this and we're wondering what is going on." <br />Jeanette Mosley, 21083 Gary Drive, Hayward, stated that she sold real estate in San <br />Leandro. She was offended that Member Shields compared a gambler throwing the dice <br />to these Christian people who were trying to live and service a community in good faith. <br />She stated that it was a disservice to the City if this church did not stay in San Leandro. <br />The church youth were positively involved in the community compared to other young <br />people. <br />