Consultants for the Institute of Islamic Studies (IIS) spent the evening on May 5 answering questions about the reasoning behind the location chosen for construction of its new mosque and the projected growth the institute will see as a result.
No decision was made on May 5, but the board scheduled a continuation of the hearing for Thursday, June 2, so it could hold deliberations and public comment.
IIS consultants’ comments during the second Zoning Board hearing on the plans, which require a use variance for constructing the mosque on Old Trenton Road, still did not satisfy the concerns of opponents and some board members, who questioned whether the new mosque would attract more congregants to the area — and thus be a detriment to traffic and other quality of life issues — because of its facilities.
Zoning Board members Curtis Hoberman said that creating a facility that is bigger and contains nice features “could be attractive to a person who many be a non-worshiper or someone who wants a smaller, community feel” to worshiping, who then may decide to join the new mosque. “When you provide the community with expanded services,” growth can happen, he said.
Complicating matters during the hearing was the confusion over the distinction between the “attendees” of the mosque and the “membership.” While the terms were used interchangeably, IIS officials explained they calculate attendees by the number of people who regularly attend services.
However, Muslims are welcomed to attend services at mosques near their location throughout the day, IIS members explained. So, for example, if a Muslim works in another town and wants to attend a daily prayer occurring during business hours, he or she might worship in a mosque located within that town, and not in the mosque of his or her hometown.
IIS officials said they had 120 “attendees,” and estimated that the number would grow to 200 within five years and to 250 anticipated attendees within 10 years. They testified that the number specifies adults, and that the number of children attending “Sunday School,” held on Saturdays, would be a separate number of 125. Those classes, however, would not coincide with religious services held for adults, they said. IIS officials also estimated that about 50 percent of its current attendees come from West Windsor.
Still, residents asked for guarantees from IIS consultants that their projected membership growth would not exceed the estimated increase, but IIS officials could not provide such guarantees. Residents cited another figure used by IIS officials — that 400 Muslims lived in West Windsor and surrounding areas, including Plainsboro and Cranbury. IIS officials said they included that number solely for demographic illustration.
However, they testified that because multiple facilities were located in nearby towns like Hamilton, Lawrence, South Brunswick, and Ewing, and they already had an established membership from the local area, that growth would be limited.
They also said that the footprint of the building, and the constraints imposed by township ordinance regarding developable land on the site, would make future expansion unlikely.
In addition, “the actual size and site plan for that mosque will have to come back for site plan approval” once a use variance is granted by the Zoning Board, said Zoning Board Attorney Edwin Schmierer. “That would lock them into a size.” And if IIS officials wanted to expand, they would have to seek another approval.
The hearing focused on the testimony of IIS Planner John McDonough, who went through a process of elimination to explain why he believed other possible locations were not suitable for the mosque and explained how the mosque fits criteria that show it is an appropriate use for the area.
Residents criticized one of the reasons IIS chose the Old Trenton Road location — that IIS wanted a new facility to be located within three miles of its current location on Princeton-Hightstown Road in East Windsor, on the boarder with West Windsor.
Referring to that reason, resident Steve Smith said, “I would ask the board to take that into consideration. This is New Jersey.”
The attendance for the meeting was noticeably smaller than the crowd of more than 100 who filled the room for the first hearing in April, but the turnout still filled the seats on May 5.
Many of the audience members were residents of the adjacent Elements development, who have banded together as the Friends of West Windsor Master Zoning Plan and have hired an attorney, Anne Studholme, of the Manewitz & Studholme law firm with offices in Princeton and New York.
IIS wants to develop 7.17 acres of currently vacant land at 2030 Old Trenton Road into a house of worship. The plans would require a use variance from the township’s Zoning Department because the property is currently located in the RO-1 zone, which permits research and office uses.
According to the plans submitted, IIS would construct a facility that includes a house of worship, multi-purpose hall, offices, kitchen, adult social area including a kitchen and housing for its spiritual leader, and a health care facility at the site.
The proposed site is near Windsor Center Drive in East Windsor and Dorchester Drive/Dantone Boulevard in West Windsor.
For the full story with more details, read the print edition on Friday, May 13.
