Los Gatos mosque appeals restrictive conditions on approved permit

The West Valley Muslim Association appealed 19 conditions of its approved use permit from the Los Gatos Planning Commission on Monday, arguing the restrictions violate federal religious protections. The Council on American-Islamic Relations backed the appeal, stating the conditions are uniquely burdensome compared to those imposed on other religious institutions in the town. The appeal challenges limits on morning services, attendance caps, and parking expansion requirements, claiming the town violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

Getting your Trinity Audio //trinityaudio.ai player ready... Mosque permit appeal The West Valley Muslim Association is challenging multiple conditions of approval of its use permit imposed by the Los Gatos Planning Commission, garnering support from a Muslim civil rights group on Monday. “Approving a mosque’s permit while attaching uniquely burdensome conditions is not equal treatment,” said Zahra Billoo, San Francisco Bay Area office director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, in a statement. “The Town Council should grant the appeal and ensure that any conditions are neutral, evidence-based and consistent with federal religious freedom protections.” On May 21, the commission approved WVMA’s application to amend its conditional use permit, which included a limit on morning services and extended hours for nighttime services. The association runs the only mosque in Los Gatos. According to the appeal submitted on Monday by WVMA founder Razi Mohiuddin, they are appealing certain conditions on grounds of abuse of discretion and lack of substantial evidence. WVMA argued that the challenged conditions “substantially burden WVMA’s religious exercise” and are based on subjective complaints, thus violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, a federal law protecting religious organizations from discrimination in land use cases. Mohiuddin’s appeal challenges 19 of the 33 conditions of approval, including annual compliance reviews, restrictions on the use of the Farley Road facility, attendance caps and capital improvement conditions for parking expansion, landscaping and screening. Mohiuddin is asking the town to preserve the permit approved by the Planning Commission on May 21 and remove or revise the 19 conditions in question. “No church or synagogue in Los Gatos faces anything close to the burdensome conditions imposed on our community,” said Mohiuddin in a statement. “The disparity is documented, it is stark, and we believe it is a clear federal civil rights violation.” Local government app The Town of Los Gatos is putting “the power of local government in the palm of your hand” with a mobile app to help residents conveniently report non-emergency issues. MyLosGatos311 is a new mobile community engagement app designed to make it easier for residents and community members to connect with town staff on menial issues like potholes and graffiti. The app allows community members to report and track service requests and keeps them informed throughout the resolution process. The app is powered through GOGov and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play. Service requests can still be submitted through the town website at http://www.losgatosca.gov/MyLosGatos311 http://www.losgatosca.gov/MyLosGatos311 .