No New Florence Mosque Kentucky Fanatics Demand
Some oppose plan to build northern Kentucky mosque
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/aug/16/some-oppose-plan-build-northern-kentucky-mosque/?partner=RSS
FLORENCE, Ky. (AP) — A flier being circulated in a northern Kentucky city is critical of plans to build a mosque.
City officials in Florence say they have received about a dozen calls concerning the plans, which would locate the worship center on a 5.5-acre site in Florence.
The Kentucky Enquirer reports that the flier includes a newspaper article about the mosque and encourages residents to take action to stop the construction.
Joshua Wice, Florence’s community/business development director, says he has fielded about a dozen calls from residents since the plans were revealed last month. He says he has been able to answer most of the questions.
The nonprofit Mercy Foundation Inc. bought the land in 2008 and a local construction firm has been contracted to build the facility inBut today, in yet another of the continuing coast-to-coast protests against mosques around America, anti-Islam activists are seeking to recruit protesters to demand a halt to plans since 2008 to build a mosque in Florence, Kentucky, with claims that the local mosque is part of an effort in the “takeover of our country.” Mosque protesters are also stating that who object their efforts to deny religious freedom and freedom of worship to Kentucky Muslims are “anti-American people” who are “free to leave” the country. April.
FLORENCE - The announcement that a mosque is being planned near Mall Road in Florence has drawn a strong reaction from some in the community.
Florence city officials say they have gotten several calls about the proposed worship center and a flier is being distributed in the city's neighborhoods.
There is also a website run by a Boone County resident that posts anti-Islamic messages and encourages people to "Stop the Mosque."
The worship center would be located on a 5.5-acre site at 900 Cayton Road between Mall Road and Hopeful Church Road.
Joshua Wice, community/business development director for the city of Florence, said he has fielded about a dozen calls from residents since the plans were revealed last month.
"I'm not surprised that people have questions," Wice said. "The great majority of the calls have been from people who had questions about the development and we have been able to answer them."
The proposed center is in an area that is zoned C-2 and one of the principally permitted uses includes "churches, synagogues, temples and other places of religious assembly for worship."
The flier includes an Enquirer article from July 25, reprinted without permission, that revealed details about the mosque. The mailer encourages residents to take action to halt construction of the facility.
"Cayton Road is in your neighborhood," the flier states. "Everyone needs to contact Florence City Council to have this stopped. Americans need to stop the takeover of our country."
Wice said residents are welcome to call the city for information, but this is not a local government issue. "It's a permitted use and this is really a property rights issue," he said.
The Mercy Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization, bought the land in 2008 and a local construction firm submitted an application to build the facility in April.
The application went through a standard review process and was approved by the Boone County Planning Commission in June.
Much of the criticism has focused on city or county officials for allowing the project to go forward or not holding public hearings, but undue scrutiny or unwarranted efforts to impede the project might well have violated federal laws.
The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act is often described as federal zoning for religious uses.
Enacted in 2000, it states that "no government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution."
A local attorney enlisted by the city advised that attempts to inhibit development of a place of worship that meets zoning requirements could result in a substantial monetary judgment against the city.
"The assumption that anybody has done anything wrong is a fallacy," Mayor Diane Whalen said. "Sometimes people want to draw a line around the law in a way they find acceptable."
The developer submitted a site plan to the Boone County Building Department for review but was asked to make some revisions and recently resubmitted the proposal.
"It is not unusual to ask for revisions," said Jim Key, the county's chief building official. "This will be treated like any other application."
In recent years a diverse array of religious groups has chosen to locate in Boone County. Last year, the Church of Scientology purchased a building on Main Street that was formerly owned by Florence Baptist Church. There is also a nondenominational Trucker's Chapel inside a trailer in a Travel Centers of America truck stop on Ky. 18.
None of those facilities has generated as much local buzz as the proposed mosque.
The Mercy Foundation attempted to secure a zoning change to build a facility on Mt. Zion Road in 2002 to accommodate Boone County's Muslim population.
The Northern Kentucky Islamic Center was established in 2003 on Mall Road, just a few blocks from the proposed mosque site. The facility hosts many activities, including daily prayers, community gatherings and Sunday school.
The group has also focused on outreach in an effort to introduce Islam to the local community, which representatives say has increased membership and contributed to the need for a larger facility.
Preliminary plans call for a two-story facility with a capacity of 635 that would cost approximately $1.5 million.
Joseph Dabdoub, a spokesman for the center, said he is troubled by the reaction.
"The flier was very disappointing," Dabdoub said. "These are average, hard-working people from the community, looking for a place to worship."
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/aug/16/some-oppose-plan-build-northern-kentucky-mosque/?partner=RSS
FLORENCE, Ky. (AP) — A flier being circulated in a northern Kentucky city is critical of plans to build a mosque.
City officials in Florence say they have received about a dozen calls concerning the plans, which would locate the worship center on a 5.5-acre site in Florence.
The Kentucky Enquirer reports that the flier includes a newspaper article about the mosque and encourages residents to take action to stop the construction.
Joshua Wice, Florence’s community/business development director, says he has fielded about a dozen calls from residents since the plans were revealed last month. He says he has been able to answer most of the questions.
The nonprofit Mercy Foundation Inc. bought the land in 2008 and a local construction firm has been contracted to build the facility inBut today, in yet another of the continuing coast-to-coast protests against mosques around America, anti-Islam activists are seeking to recruit protesters to demand a halt to plans since 2008 to build a mosque in Florence, Kentucky, with claims that the local mosque is part of an effort in the “takeover of our country.” Mosque protesters are also stating that who object their efforts to deny religious freedom and freedom of worship to Kentucky Muslims are “anti-American people” who are “free to leave” the country. April.
FLORENCE - The announcement that a mosque is being planned near Mall Road in Florence has drawn a strong reaction from some in the community.
Florence city officials say they have gotten several calls about the proposed worship center and a flier is being distributed in the city's neighborhoods.
There is also a website run by a Boone County resident that posts anti-Islamic messages and encourages people to "Stop the Mosque."
The worship center would be located on a 5.5-acre site at 900 Cayton Road between Mall Road and Hopeful Church Road.
Joshua Wice, community/business development director for the city of Florence, said he has fielded about a dozen calls from residents since the plans were revealed last month.
"I'm not surprised that people have questions," Wice said. "The great majority of the calls have been from people who had questions about the development and we have been able to answer them."
The proposed center is in an area that is zoned C-2 and one of the principally permitted uses includes "churches, synagogues, temples and other places of religious assembly for worship."
The flier includes an Enquirer article from July 25, reprinted without permission, that revealed details about the mosque. The mailer encourages residents to take action to halt construction of the facility.
"Cayton Road is in your neighborhood," the flier states. "Everyone needs to contact Florence City Council to have this stopped. Americans need to stop the takeover of our country."
Wice said residents are welcome to call the city for information, but this is not a local government issue. "It's a permitted use and this is really a property rights issue," he said.
The Mercy Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization, bought the land in 2008 and a local construction firm submitted an application to build the facility in April.
The application went through a standard review process and was approved by the Boone County Planning Commission in June.
Much of the criticism has focused on city or county officials for allowing the project to go forward or not holding public hearings, but undue scrutiny or unwarranted efforts to impede the project might well have violated federal laws.
The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act is often described as federal zoning for religious uses.
Enacted in 2000, it states that "no government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution."
A local attorney enlisted by the city advised that attempts to inhibit development of a place of worship that meets zoning requirements could result in a substantial monetary judgment against the city.
"The assumption that anybody has done anything wrong is a fallacy," Mayor Diane Whalen said. "Sometimes people want to draw a line around the law in a way they find acceptable."
The developer submitted a site plan to the Boone County Building Department for review but was asked to make some revisions and recently resubmitted the proposal.
"It is not unusual to ask for revisions," said Jim Key, the county's chief building official. "This will be treated like any other application."
In recent years a diverse array of religious groups has chosen to locate in Boone County. Last year, the Church of Scientology purchased a building on Main Street that was formerly owned by Florence Baptist Church. There is also a nondenominational Trucker's Chapel inside a trailer in a Travel Centers of America truck stop on Ky. 18.
None of those facilities has generated as much local buzz as the proposed mosque.
The Mercy Foundation attempted to secure a zoning change to build a facility on Mt. Zion Road in 2002 to accommodate Boone County's Muslim population.
The Northern Kentucky Islamic Center was established in 2003 on Mall Road, just a few blocks from the proposed mosque site. The facility hosts many activities, including daily prayers, community gatherings and Sunday school.
The group has also focused on outreach in an effort to introduce Islam to the local community, which representatives say has increased membership and contributed to the need for a larger facility.
Preliminary plans call for a two-story facility with a capacity of 635 that would cost approximately $1.5 million.
Joseph Dabdoub, a spokesman for the center, said he is troubled by the reaction.
"The flier was very disappointing," Dabdoub said. "These are average, hard-working people from the community, looking for a place to worship."
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