A near two-year debate involving a Muslim prayer center and a Sammamish neighborhood should be resolved next week.

Hearing examiner John Galt reviewed an appeal earlier this week by the nonprofit group “Friends of SE 20th,” which contested the city’s conditional approval of a 44-space parking lot in the 22000 block of Southeast 20th Street.

The city’s Planning Department gave the Sammamish Muslim Association approval for the lot  —  assuming it followed a list of 34 conditions  —  on Sept. 6, 2012. The SMA initially applied for a parking lot in March of 2011. The current prayer center, a converted 2,900-square-foot single-family home, will not be altered itself.

“Friends of SE 20th” voiced several issues with the city’s conditional approval of the parking lot, noting they don’t believe it’s compatible with the surrounding vicinity. They argued additional traffic will make it tough for neighbors to get in and out of their driveways. They also took issue with the number of prayer services and hours — something, they say, makes the SMA different than other religious organizations in Sammamish neighborhoods.

“The thing that brings concern to me is the intensity, it’s five times a day, it’s 365 days a year, there is no day of rest for me from that scenario,” said Don Allaire, president of the neighborhood group.

Friends of Southeast 20th attorney Mark Davidson argued that depending on the time of year, prayers could start as early as 4:30 a.m. and as late as 11:30 p.m.

The SMA said that the parking lot itself will seldom be full except for special occasions like Friday noon prayer and Ramadan.

“At best, (neighbor’s) complaints amount to speculative scenarios that are unrealistic,” said SMA attorney Tadas Kisielius.

The city argued it conducted a comprehensive study, taking all concerns into account. With recent non-motorized improvements to Southeast 20th Street, engineers said the road could handle up to 11,000 vehicles a day. The city said it averages 4,000 currently and the additional parking would only increase traffic by roughly 70 cars a day.

As for the complaints about hours of operation, the city said noise and light levels wouldn’t be any different than an eight-lot subdivision, which is what the property could hold. More importantly, said attorney Kari Sand, there are laws protecting religious affiliations.

“City staff decided restricting the hours of worship was not only not necessary given the mitigating, but was also unlawful,” she said. “Hours of limitation would infringe on core religious beliefs and practices of the Sammamish Muslim Association.”

The hearing examiner is required to have a final decision in writing within 10 days of Feb. 12. That decision is subject to the right of reconsideration and to the right of judicial appeal in superior court.