Agenda - 02-17-2004-8d - Laserfiche WebLink

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Rifai Marufi Order of America PO Box 202 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 October 15, 2003 Orange County Assessors Office Attn: Gail7ones 200 S. Cameron Street PO Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 To Whom It May Concern: ~~W~~ , QCP ~' 1 2003 ~rna~ci: co. rax ore~r,~ With this letter, we are respectfully aslting that you approve our late application as a religious organization and exempt us from the tax bill we recently received for property we own on Mebane Oaks Road. This property, PIN 9820-26-9214, tract number 666464, was formally transferred to our church, Rifai Marufi Order of America, by deed recorded on September 25, 2002 (deed reference 2723/450). It was donated to us by a member of our congregation, Deborah Amaral, who had received minor subdivision approval from Orange County in order to make a donation of this parcel of 4..37 acres from a larger parcel she owned. We incorrectly believed that the legal transfer of the land to our congregation also effected its formal designation as church property for tax purposes. We regret that we did not follow through to ensure that this tools place.. We enclose several documents attesting to our status as a religious organization, including our Articles of Incorporation from the State of North Carolina, our acceptance as a 501(c)3 organization, a letter noting a change of mailing address, our church by-laws, and a brochure we put together for other purposes that explains a little about who we are and what we are about. In speaking with Gail Jones in the Assessors Office, she suggested that we show our intention for and use of the land thus far'. Our intention is to build a Universal Center of Light that can be used for worship, music, and dance. We intend to make this space available to people of all faith communities, An architectural rendering of the planned building, designed by congregation member and registered architect Geoffrey L,ee, is attached. In late September 2001, we held a dedication ceremony on the land during our fourth annual Rumi Festival of Chapel Hill. We attach a photo of the laying of a stone tinder the intended building site. On September 29, 2002, Deborah Amaral presented the deed for the property to our minister, M. Sherif Catalkaya, also during that year's Rumi Festivah This transfer of deed was witnessed by local members and guests from azound the country. Since that time, we have obtained a letter of site plan approval and also