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CUP No. 2013-26 and VA No. 2013-09 August 26, 2013 Page 2 The land uses surrounding the project site include church uses to the north and south, single-family residential development to the east, and multi-family residential uses to the west (Exhibits 1, 2 and 3). Project Description The Bat Nha Buddhist Meditation Center is proposing to demolish its existing temple and an adjacent single-family residence in order to construct a new two-level meditation center. The new center is proposed to be an 8,551-square foot facility that will be constructed on a podium. The ground floor, which will be approximately four feet below grade, will contain a kitchen and restroom as well as the on-site parking for the center. The second level, which will be built on top of the podium, will contain the meditation center and ancillary rooms. This level will include the worship area, a retreat room, a photo display room, the principal's private rooms, office and storage for the facility (Exhibits 4, 5, 6 and 7). The building layout and architectural design are intended to create an environment that is consistent with Buddhist teachings and meditation. The architectural style, design and decoration of the project is traditional Vietnamese, incorporating posts, lintels, open courtyards, sky wells, verandas and hallways that connect different areas of the meditation center. The slanted terra cotta clay tile roofs feature curved eaves that will be consistent on all of the structures. Although the main level of the building is one-story, the decorative roof and tower elements create the appearance of a two-story building. The two-story element will be 36 feet in height from street level, with the decorative tower elements extending up to 48 feet in height. Because these elements will exceed the 27-foot height limit in the R1 zoning district, a variance is needed. Parking for religious facilities is based on the number of seats within the assembly areas and the square footage of the office areas. Based on the size of the assembly and office areas, a total of 123 parking spaces are required for this facility, while only 115 spaces will be provided. The parking spaces are located on the ground level, with 95 parking spaces located below the podium and the remaining 20 uncovered spaces at the rear of the site. Because the project proposes fewer spaces than required by code, a second variance is proposed. The meditation center will be open every day at 10:00 a.m. Closing hours for the center are from 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday, 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 6:00 p.m. on Monday and Saturday (Exhibit 8). In conjunction with the conditional use permit and variances, the applicant is applying for a voluntary lot merger to merge the two lots into one parcel. This is a ministerial application that will be filed separately and does not require Planning Commission review or approval. 31 C-4