The West Windsor Zoning Board will continue its hearing on plans for a mosque to be constructed by the Institute of Islamic Studies (IIS) New Jersey on Old Trenton Road on Thursday, May 5.
While the board heard testimony from IIS’s engineer, architect, and traffic engineer, as well as questions from the audience on the matter, the previous April 7 hearing was not completed by 10:30 p.m., and the meeting was adjourned.
A crowd of more than 100 filled the room for the first hearing. 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.
She argued that the possible growth and other factors, like population, traffic issues, and other impacts must be studied as part of the zoning request.
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.
