https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/c01946305b7c6b26a2d7cf7255a3bec0.jpg eb438edeb6f6620aa4adedeee24a37bc Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource Lopez and Associates (2013). Rendering of the proposed Islamic center in Lomita. [Online image]. Retrieved June 18, 2020 from https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/islamic-center-lawsuit-lomita-settled.html. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource California Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ca_05 Location The location of the interview Lomita, CA Date 2010-2013 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. The city of Lomita, California rejects a proposal by the Islamic Center of South Bay (ICSB) for an expansion of a new center on its property. The city states that the rejection is based on residents’ concerns over increased traffic and noise as well as the project’s size and fit with the neighborhood. Members of the ICSB allege anti-Islamic sentiment, and CAIR-LA files a federal lawsuit on behalf of ICSB against the city. The denial prompts a DOJ investigation and, eventually, a DOJ lawsuit under RLUIPA. Lomita and the DOJ settle the suit in 2013 along with a settlement in ICSB’s lawsuit, clearing the way for ICSB to bring a new, successful application to the city council. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 25816 Walnut St, Lomita, CA 90717 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. QMQQ+G8 Lomita, California Proposed Project Islamic center; mosque expansion Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="http://masjidalnoor.org/about/">Islamic Center of South Bay</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance administrative denial; public campaign; bias-related incident Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications approved (with restrictions; following lawsuit and settlement) Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. On June 8, 2009 an initial hearing was held before the City of Lomita Planning Commission for the proposed redevelopment of the Islamic Center of South Bay (ICSB). Initial specifications for the redevelopment included a proposed sanctuary consisting of 2,370 square feet, a proposed building area of 16,851 square feet, and a proposed 74 additional parking spaces. During the meeting, the architect for the project, Shakil Patel, addressed residents’ concerns about the project, including “the location and height of the mosque windows, the traffic and noise issues” and “the distance between the buildings” (Planning Commission Notes 6/8). After commissioners asked Mr. Patel questions about the project, Commissioner Dever suggested that the project be continued and that residents have an opportunity to voice their opinions about the project. Initial public reactions were not positive. Residents were primarily concerned over the additional noise and traffic that the project would create. On July 1 and August 12 of 2009, two community meetings were held so that the Islamic Center of South Bay could revise their initial project. These revisions were brought before the Planning Commission in a meeting on September 14, 2009. In this meeting, the Planning Commission voted 4-3 in favor of recommending the project for approval. Residents continued to express their concerns about the project leading up to the city council meeting. On March 2, 2010, after a five-hour hearing, the Lomita City Council unanimously voted to reject the proposed redevelopment. Some of the project’s supporters alleged that religion played an important role in the decision. City Councilman Tim King contended that the decision was based on the structure’s location and the coding changes that would have been required (KPCC, 2010). Importantly, the rejection of the redevelopment allowed for the Islamic Center of South Bay to come back with another plan (”Lomita Stops Mosque Expansion,” KPCC, 2010). On November 18, 2011, the United States Department of Justice announced that it had begun a formal civil rights investigation over the rejection of the proposed redevelopment. Officials stated that the investigation was triggered after DOJ officials had read reports of the mosque’s denial (Green, 2011). While the DOJ investigation was still ongoing, the Islamic Center of South Bay on March 21, 2012 filed a lawsuit against the City of Lomita, seeking “damages and reimbursement for costs incurred during a planning process that has lasted more than three years” (Flaccus, 2012). To date, we have been unable to find the original lawsuit filed. On January 11, 2013, it was announced that the City of Lomita had reached a conditional settlement with the Islamic Center of South Bay. “The agreement [allowed] the Islamic Center of South Bay to reapply to complete the expansions. It also [called] for the city to process the new application promptly and to waive application fees, with a caveat that if the new application is denied again, the lawsuit may resume” (“Islamic Center Reaches Settlement,” KPCC, 2013). On March 8, 2013, the DOJ filed a complaint and agreed order against Lomita, alleging that Lomita violated RLUIPA by creating a substantial burden for ICSB community members to practice their religion in their denial of the redevelopment. The agreed order affirmed the city’s settlement with the ICSB and mandated certain record-keeping and training requirements for city officials. On September 9, 2013, the Planning Commission discussed the ICSB’s new application. After a long public hearing, the Planning Commission voted 4-0 in favor of the redevelopment. On October 7, 2013, the City Council reviewed the new application, which contained changes such as a 7,000 square-foot increase in the site’s size after the purchase of a new lot and 20 more parking spaces (Green, 2013). The project was approved in the meeting by a unanimous vote. Construction was underway by 2014 and today the Islamic Center of South Bay’s redevelopment plans appear to have been completed and the site is operational. References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. <ul><li>Green, Nick. (2012, March 22). Discrimination is alleged. Religion: Islamic Center says the City Council violated federal law in rejecting its renovation plans. Daily Breeze, p. 1A. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Green, Nick. (2011, November 9). Planning officials capture 2 seats. Daily Breeze, p. 4A. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Green Staff Writer, N. (2011, November 18). Mosque rejection spurs inquiry. Lomita: Feds ask city officials why expansion of Islamic Center was blocked. Daily Breeze, p. 3A. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Green, Nick. (2011, October 12). 3 running for 2 council seats. Lomita: A previous challenger faces pair from planning board. Daily Breeze, p. 3A. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Justice Department reaches agreement with Lomita, Calif., to protect religious exercise. (2013, February 1). Office of Public Affairs, Department of Justice. Retrieved from<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-reaches-agreement-lomita-calif-protect-religious-exercise"> https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-reaches-agreement-lomita-calif-protect-religious-exercise</a>. </li> </ul> Year Year the case began. 2010 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Lomita, CA Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. CA_05, occurring in Lomita, CA, 90717 from 2010 to 2013 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Stewart Zelnick Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA)