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Commission approves one‑year extension for Macy Street religious facility amid neighbor complaints about noise
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously approved a one‑year extension for a conditional use permit allowing a religious facility at 1959 N. Macy St.; commissioners heard a neighbor’s written complaint about speaker noise, parking and alleged vandalism and received applicant commitments on fencing and noise mitigation.
The Planning Commission unanimously approved Extension of Time 25‑02 on Wednesday, allowing the applicant to continue pursuing development permits and plan check for the conversion of a single‑family home at 1959 North Macy Street into a religious facility.
Background: Conditional Use Permit 21‑13 originally authorized the conversion and an approved addition; the extension request would set the new expiration date to April 12, 2026 and keep the previously approved plans and conditions in effect. Staff recommended approval and prepared Resolution 2025‑028 with CEQA findings that the project is exempt under CEQA review exemption Section 15061(b)(3).
Public comment and applicant response
A nearby resident filed a written comment saying the facility used a loudspeaker for prayer early in the morning and late at night, alleged a pattern of people coming and going, and reported a vehicle‑window break‑in they attributed to a mosque attendee. The resident requested noise reduction measures, improved maintenance, parking controls and a privacy wall.
The mosque’s representatives denied that loudspeaker use is routine, saying the site uses a small speaker “only once every Friday for 30 minutes” and that modest sound reinforcement is deployed so women in a separate area can hear. Speakers told the commission the project includes plans for a perimeter wall and enhanced security and asked that the extension be granted to complete the pending plan‑check items (staff noted the project is near the end of plan check but requires one final utility review).
Commission action and rationale
Commissioners discussed the written complaint and asked staff to show the neighbor’s parcel on the aerial map. Commissioners and the applicant exchanged details about the speaker schedule (applicant said Friday prayer sound amplification is at about 1:00–1:30 p.m.), parking and pending sewer review. After hearing the applicant’s explanation and the neighborhood submission, the Planning Commission voted 7–0 to approve the one‑year extension.
Next steps
Staff will continue plan‑check processing; the applicant said they have plans ready to submit and will proceed once the remaining public‑works utility review is complete. The approved extension preserves the previously approved CUP and its conditions for another year.
