WOO HOO! Norwalk, CT zoning commission REJECTS al-Madany Islamic Center plan to build a 27,000 sq. ft. monster mosque

Posted: June 6, 2012 | Author: barenakedislam

 

The commission gave nine reasons to reject the plan. The proposed building, according to the denial resolution approved on a 4-3 vote, was among other things ‘out of scale and does not allow for’ adequate screening and buffering.”

The Hour  (H/T Sharona) More than 100 people attended the special meeting in Norwalk Concert Hall. Al-Madany members wore T-shirts reading “All Faiths Can Co-Exist Peacefully,” while neighbors of the proposed mosque site had buttons reading “Keep 127 Fillow Street Residential.”

Those neighbors left the meeting pleased with the vote but unconvinced that they had heard the last of the mosque plan.

“I don’t think this is going to be the end of it. They own the property and until they don’t own the property, I won’t feel comfortable,” said Bob Caserta, a resident of Stonegate Condominiums. “I agree with the fact that they should have a place to worship. I don’t think anybody disagrees with that at all. The problem is the site is inappropriate. It’s just inappropriate. It’s small and as (one commissioner) said there’s been (traffic) accidents.”

Marc J. Grenier, the Norwalk attorney who represented Stonegate and Fillow Ridge Condominium residents, described the commission’s action as “well thought out.”

Among the nine reasons given to deny the plan: The claimed accessory uses of the multi-purpose hall at the rear of the building had “not been clearly defined,” Al-Madany’s traffic report “failed to identify” the uses of the rear portion of the building, a proposal to share parking with an off-site church didn’t comply with parking regulations, the project would “adversely impact property values,” and was “out of scale in its density of use and bulk of buildings.”

Posted on 6 Jun 12 by BNI