UPDATE: MIchelle adds in the comment section:
This is what one might call Passive Aggressive Jihad. So, if they are allowed a parking lot why would size matter? The difference between 34 and 42 spots really is not much. Once they have their illegal parking lot their mosque will be established and there will be no turning back. It will grow, and the owners will acquire the adjacent homes (easily/cheap cause no one else will want them) expand the building and the parking spaces......no question. The home was purchased in early June - shortly thereafter a website was created announcing the 'Meadowbrook Islamic Center' (end of June). This was the plan all along. And, was anyone in the nearby neighborhoods notified of this, nope. This secret stuff creeps me out."
America is waking up. Grassroots. People have had enough.
Photo: It was standing room only for the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on Nov. 18 when residents came to protest a proposed parking lot at the Meadowbrook Islamic Center on Eight Mile Road in Northville Township.
The township hall parking lot was full, and it was standing room only at the meeting, with residents spending almost three hours complaining about Meadowbrook Islamic Center board members' request for variances at 41885 Eight Mile Road to construct a 42-space parking lot.
The Islamic congregation has prayer services five times a day, seven days a week in a house on the south side of Eight Mile Road a few houses east of Silver Springs Drive.
The congregation has hired Silvari Architects of Ferndale, a landscape architecture firm, to develop a preliminary site plan showing a parking lot in front of the house.
Specifically, the Islamic center board members are asking the ZBA to permit all parking in front of the building, where it is not permitted, and setbacks of 52.1 feet on the east, 48.4 feet on the south and 22.8 feet on the west where 100 feet is required on all sides that abut a residential zoning district.
ZBA members voted unanimously to table the matter until the December meeting, requesting that the congregation return with a plan that has 33-34 parking spaces instead of 42.
Paul Slatin, ZBA chair, said there will be an opportunity for the public to comment at next month’s meeting.
Residents' complaints
Residents in the nearby Quail Ridge subdivision and Highland Lakes Condominiums complained that the parking lot would increase traffic in the area, posing a public safety hazard, cause air pollution, affect wildlife and that it was basically an inappropriate use for the residential area.
A place of worship is allowed under the R-1 single family residential zoning, according to Jennifer Frey, director of community development.
Residents also expressed concern that because Realtors had contacted both next door neighbors of the Islamic center that officials had plans to expand the building.
However, center board members Mohammad Usman and Dr. Sayed Nassar said they have no plans to do so or make any changes to the house.
