Planners Hear Overview on Mosque Plans
Islamic center proposed for house at 124 Church Street in Liberty Corner.
Photos
Former Township Mayor Ali Chaudry, also president of the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge, appeared Tuesday night before neighbors and the Bernards Township Planning Board to informally present plans to convert a four-bedroom home on Church Street in Liberty Corner into an Islamic center.
Chaudry said the Islamic Society already owns the house at 124 Church Street, approximately across the street from the Liberty Corner firehouse. He added and other professionals who presented the plan said the society also has reached out to neighbors, the Liberty Corner Fire Co. and First Aid Squad and others in seeking input before establishing a mosque to serve families from nearby in The Hills in other sections of Bernards Township and other sections fo the Somerset Hills.
"Traditional mosques look many different ways...reflecting local cultures," Chaudry said near the beginning of the presentation. He said the proposal is to create a center that would fit into the neighborhood of older homes, some historic, in Liberty Corner village.
Chaudry said he would like to return before the board with a complete and detailed site plan within a schedule for the center to open some time this year. But neither he nor the other professionals set a timeline for presenting a formal application, or fulfilling the plan discussed in concept on Tuesday night.
Phase one of the plan would call for little change to the existing structure, which with a storage shed adds up to almost 5,000 square feet of space on 4.3 acres, according to information presented to the Planning Board.
Prayers for adults and a Sunday school for about 25 children initally would be held in the large living room combined with other space in what had been built as a private home, apparently in the 1950s.
A maximum of 50 to 65 worshippers attend prayers on Friday afternoon between 1 to 2 p.m., he said. The longer-term plans for the mosque would be to accommodate participation by up to 100 people, he said.
Currently, Chaudry said members of the Islamic Center rent space from the Bernards Township Community Center for worship, and lease about five classrooms at the Somerset Hills YMCA to operate a Sunday school.
But the eventual plan is eventually to add a prayer hall measuring about 33 by 48 feet in size, according to the presentation.
Architect for the project is Dan Lincoln, a Bernardsville-based architect and president of the Historical Society of the Somerset Hills. Lincoln said the eventual addition would have an exterior of stucco and cultured stone, and would have a dome on top.
The plan as presented on Tuesday included drawings of a freestanding 45-foot-high "minaret," a type of pole-like steeple that is standard on mosques, but which Chaudry and the other professionals said could possibly be built into the new addition, and potentially could be reduced in height.
The new addition, as well as parking spaces, were proposed for the rear of the existing Dutch Colonial-style home.
The version of the plan as proposed on Tuesday included parking spaces for up to 43 vehicles, but Chaudry and the other professionals said they are open to "banking" about nine of those spots for now.
Chaudry said the mosque would be open for prayers five times a day, starting right before dawn, and ending a few hours after sundown. But he said that, except for Friday, those prayer sessions are lightly attended.
Prayer sessions near the end of the holiday of Ramadan would last the longest, he said. Meanwhile, an annual get-together for entire families, now held at the Olde Mill Inn, would hopefully continue at that venue, he said.
A house of worship is a permitted use in a residential zone, local attorney Vincent Bisogno said at the start of the presentation. But the applicants likely will seek zoning variances because already existing construction is within 25 feet of a next-door neighbor, instead of the required 50 feet for a residence and 75 feet for a home, he said.
Bisogno said the professionals would like to work to reduce the need for a variance for the minaret.
"We will consider what you said...and go back to the drawing table," Bisogno said at the end of the informal presentation.
In This article
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Bernards Township - Planning and Zoning Departments
277 S Maple Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ -
Somerset Hills YMCA
140 Mt Airy Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ
Maurice Marvi
11:16 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
Mazal Tov to the ISBR!
sam
3:13 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012
In dont think a project that calls for parking spaces for 46 cars belongs in a residential neighborhood.
Maurice Marvi
3:48 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012
How many cars can park:
Across the street at the Fire House?
At the Montessori School down the Road?
At the Church 300 yards down the Street?
At the School 200 Yards down the street?
Would you ask that they not be placed in a residential area?
sam
8:47 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
The Montessori school is not on Liberty corner. The church is in the commercial area. The Fire house has been there before anybody, saves us property taxes and comes in handy when there is a fire. You are proposing take a former residence in a residential zoned area and adding 46 parking spaces. Thats not right.
Cheri D'Zio
6:06 am on Saturday, January 21, 2012
Great. More pavement, More Traffic, More Cars... Welcome to Liberty Corner, a small unincorporated village, that was once known as a historic town. I think we should get that cell tower back in the mix and throw in a few more banks too while we are at it. Oh and don't forget we'll need a traffic light too.
clarke
9:01 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Isn't it a bit odd that this group purchased the property first and then seek to convert it into a Mosque? Seems a bit subversive in terms of tatics no?
BRER
11:13 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
You probably would have not asked that way if the group is to build a gathering place for a faith of your choosing. Just saying.
Maurice Marvi
11:47 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
Subversive? No.
Good business practice? Yes.
Never let the seller know your need, or you end up spending more than you need to.
clarke
3:07 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
Zillow says this property sold for $750k in November 2011. I wonder what the impact on the value of the neighbors property will be of having a mosque in the neighborhood.
Maurice Marvi
3:21 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
Lets see what would happen if you replaced mosque with
Church
Synagogue
Quaker Meeting House
VFW
Elks Club
Oh, anything but a Mosque!
Miles
7:18 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
Yes, anything but a mosque.
9/11
Never forget.
BRER
7:53 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
I don't have any religious believes but I hate those who discriminate others who are different. Perhaps American Indians should never forget what happened to their ancestors, too.
Christianity brother and sisters have quite a bit of blood on their hands if you ever studied history objectively.
Maurice Marvi
8:43 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
I could not think of a more bigoted, uninformed opinion. Yes, the terrorists who attacked us on September 11, 2001 were Muslims, but they were not representative of Islam in general.
Second if you hold that feeling, should we not allow Shinto Temples because of the Japanese Invasion of Pearl Harbor? How about the Lutherans of Nazi Germany. Hey, Lets include the Catholic Church of the Inquision, and the Identity Christians who supported Timothy McVeigh.
I will never forget extremism in the name of religion.
And, I sign my name.
Exbit
2:41 pm on Thursday, March 22, 2012
They will never forget Izraeli occupation and colonization of the West Bank with our arms and money, and more recently death of about 0.5 million Iraqis caused by unprovoked act of criminal agression by us.
Maurice Marvi
7:38 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Oh well. Someone who identified himself as "LC" posted here, but deleted the post just after the email was sent out to those following this story.
I'll repost it as best I can here.
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I suggest that everyone who is concerned about this mosque being built show up to the next planning board meeting. The ISBR is planning to present their final plan in February. Many residents aren't even aware of it. The parking lot is planned to directly abut the next door property on Somerville Rd's property line. I would be against any type of business using this property due to the variances necessary and the traffic issues, it being so close to the S'ville Rd-Church St intersection. The fact that it is a mosque makes it of greater concern. I love guys like like MM ^ who are so quick to call others bigots. A person is not a bigot when he is basing his opposition to a group based on facts. There is no more bigoted group than than Muslims. Yes - this group states they are "open, moderate, and inclusive." So, MM believes it. Nice. Go to their webpage and actually read the Quran verses they site. Check out the link to ISNA, which is directly involved with the Muslim Brotherhood. (This is not my opinion - it is a fact. Citation: www.victoryinstitute.net Brief prepared for the Joint Services Detachment by Lt. Col. Wm. Thomas Smith, Jr 06/14/11)
Maurice Marvi
7:38 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
More from LC
Check out the ISBR's Quran chapter on Jihad. I am not a bigot. I just have little tolerance for a "religion" that calls for the death of the infidel who refuses to submit. It is my opinion they have chosen this site due to its proximity to the Liberty Corner Fire Dept's 9/11 Memorial.
MM states he won't forget extremism in the name of religion and cites the Inquisition - nice stretch back to the 12th Century. How about 9/11. Timothy McVeigh was an unstable lone wolf - No true Christian would support his actions, just as no true Christion would support the hateful Westboro "Baptist" Church. The difference with Islam is that the Quran teaches hate. I contend MM knows nothing of "Islam in general" but is just parroting the line he's heard from liberal media and the politically correct. Check out the Muslim practice of "al-taqiyya" - I contend the ISBR is practicing it in its quest for having this mosque built. I was at the Jan planning board meeting and heard their misrepresentations. Again - if you are concerned about this mosque - come to the Feb meeting and bring your neighbors.
Maurice Marvi
7:42 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
My Response
"I love guys like like MM ^ who are so quick to call others bigots. A person is not a bigot when he is basing his opposition to a group based on facts."
A bigot is a person who bases his opinion of over 1 Billion adeherants based on the actions of a few.
"Check out the link to ISNA, which is directly involved with the Muslim Brotherhood. (This is not my opinion - it is a fact. Citation: www.victoryinstitute.net Brief prepared for the Joint Services Detachment by Lt. Col. Wm. Thomas Smith, Jr 06/14/11)"
Guilt by association?
Maurice Marvi
7:47 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
More Responses
"I am not a bigot. I just have little tolerance for a "religion" that calls for the death of the infidel who refuses to submit."
Hey Torquemada, Whaddaya Say? (Thanks to Mel Brooks)
Maurice Marvi
7:51 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Another Response:
"Timothy McVeigh was an unstable lone wolf - No true Christian would support his actions, just as no true Christion would support the hateful Westboro "Baptist" Church. "
Timothy McVeigh was just following the tenets of the "Turner Diaries". I would doubt that the Indetity Christian Movement would take your comment about "True Christians" very well. They prefer automatic weapons. But I don't base my fellings about Christians on the murderous tendencies of a few self described Freemen.
Maurice Marvi
7:54 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Another response:
"Check out the Muslim practice of "al-taqiyya" - I contend the ISBR is practicing it in its quest for having this mosque built."
Yeah probably. Just like the "Home Churches" in Modern Day China, the Catholic Priests ordained in secret in Eastern Europe during the Soviet era, and the Morano Jews of Spain in the days of the Inquisition. Sometimes you may have to hide your belies from the ignorant amoung you.
Maurice Marvi
7:58 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Last Comment:
"Again - if you are concerned about this mosque - come to the Feb meeting and bring your neighbors."
I wasn't going to go, but I think I just may make the time. Just as one of my favorite writers wrote:
"That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is interpretation. Now, go and learn."[
"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am 'I'? And if not now, when?"
Maurice Marvi
12:02 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
Well, it looks like LC is having some problems posting. I'll repost for you.
"I never deleted my comments. It seems the administrator did, but did not respond to my email questioning it. Thanks for reposting, MM. I am not going to argue with someone who cites 12th century history to prove the evils of Christianity - I'll stick to what's currently happening with modern day jihad when considering religious extremism. For those who are concerned about this mosque - for whatever reason - please be vocal in your disapproval. Again - I'd support the neighbors in this area against any commercial establishment in this residential home. Keep in mind, their driveway will be very close to the Somerville Rd intersection. The fact that it is a mosque makes it even worse for the reasons I cited in my deleted posts - just facts. Please inform yourselves by reading the links in MM's copy of my erased posts. And shame on the administrator for deleting, if indeed that's what happened. I don't know because she didn;t answer my email. I guess the 1st Amendment applies only to Christian bashing."
Maurice Marvi
12:14 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
Here are my comments:
" I am not going to argue with someone who cites 12th century history to prove the evils of Christianity"
I never intimated that Christianity was evil. Some of my best friends are christians ;-).
As for 12th Century references, it was actually 15th Century, but why quibble with facts. As for Identity Christianity, and groups like Westboro Baptist they are more contemporary, and as you said no true "Christian" (my spelling) would assent to their beliefs as representing the maintream. I believe that the ISBR (as would most Muslims )would be feel similarly in anyone comporting Al Qaida's mission and definition of Jihad with the Mainstream. I cannot, and will not speak for them, but I will not be silent when Bigotry and ignorance rear their head.
As my favorite transplated American wrote "It is an Affront to truth to treat falsehood with complaisance" (Thomas Paine)
Maurice Marvi
12:47 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
Oops, Thomas Paine was a Transplanted not Transplated American.
Maurice Marvi
2:11 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
LC is still having trouble posting, so I'll repost for him.
""Wow - I don't know if the administrator has blocked me or what - quite bizarre but not that surprising, sadly. Obviously MM and I completely disagree and I'm not entertained by the argument - silly and tedious. But the Inquisition began in the 13th Century - my bad but so much for your correction of the 15th Century. If you're so concerned about facts - read the Quran, read about ISNA. I gave ou the links, but you'd rather stay stuck in your uninformed position.The Westboro Church and any other such loons are decidedly not Christian as they do not adhere to any Christian principles. The ISBR has hateful Quran verses on their website, and warns against friendships with the infidel who refuses to submit. As for guilt by association with the ISNA and ISBR - um yeah. When a group has links to a group that has ties to Hamas, it is incredible to me that liberal Jews, apparently like you, MM, are their greatest defenders. You'd be first in line for decapitation. You can call me names - have fun. I am fine with the facts on my side. And - you did intimate that Christians are evil - otherwise, why bring up the Inquisitian?"
Maurice Marvi
2:13 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
My Responses
"But the Inquisition began in the 13th Century - my bad but so much for your correction of the 15th Century."
My mistake, the Spanish Inquisition and the Roman inquisition both lasted through the 19th century.
Maurice Marvi
2:16 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
"I gave ou the links, but you'd rather stay stuck in your uninformed position."
If that is your belief.
Maurice Marvi
2:18 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
"When a group has links to a group that has ties to Hamas,"
The republican Party ran a KKK Grand something (David Duke) or another for high office. As a result, the Republican party is the same as the KKK? I don't think so. That is tortured thinking that has been used before. It's invalid and breaks basic rules of Logic.
Maurice Marvi
2:31 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
" it is incredible to me that liberal Jews, apparently like you, MM, are their greatest defenders. You'd be first in line for decapitation."
First of all, you assume a lot, and I won't repeat what Felix Unger said about assumptions, because I won't let it happen to me.
Wasn't Jesus was first in line for the cross. If I remember correctly he was a defender of those unpopular with the status quo. Of course, I wouldn't dare compare my actions to his. I guess I would prefer to paraphrase Voltaire:
"I believe in a different god than you, but I will defend to the death your right to your creedo"
First in line for decapitation? It's possible only when the free thinking give into the agents of fear and hate.
Maurice Marvi
2:39 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
"You can call me names - have fun. I am fine with the facts on my side. And - you did intimate that Christians are evil - otherwise, why bring up the Inquisitian?"
Again, you assume much. I brought up the Inquisition (Along with Nazi Germany, and their Japanese Allies) to show that you cannot make assumptions on an entire group based on the actions of a few. Also, the language of the Inquisition is very similar to the language many fascists in the Islamic world are using when dealing with the infidel.