Mosque's Bid for Space in Strip Mall Rejected

A plan by the Moslem Center of Somerset County to use 4,200 square feet of retail space on Route 206 as a mosque was crushed by the zoning board Wednesday.

The plan sought to use three retail spaces in the strip mall next to the abandoned KMart store as a mosque, while the Moslem Center seeks a permanent location. According to representative Dilshad Khawaja, the center would host prayer meetings, Sunday religious classes and occasional interfaith gatherings with Christian congregations.

But the plan required a use variance since religious institutions are not an approved or conditional use in the commercial zone. Board members said even though the Moslem Center's planned for temporary use of the space, a variance granted could allow for continued use of the site for religious purposes.

"The issue I have is that it's temporary for you, but it's not temporary for the township," board member John Stamler said.

Khawaja said the Moslem Center has been trying to locate a suitable property to build a permanent mosque for several years, but has not been able to come to terms on any properties offering the access and space needed. He said the Moslem Center worked with the township in hopes of finding a location, to no avail.

"We met with the late Mr. (Robert) Ringelheim many, many times and he was very helpful, God bless his soul," Khawaja said. He said the center had negotiations for property on South Branch Road, near the municipal building, which proved to be inadequate for the frontage required, and a site on Mountainview Road, which was divided by a gas pipeline, limiting the land that could be built upon.

Board members focused much of their questioning on the nearby empty KMart building, expressing concerns that having a religious facility in the strip mall would deter potential anchor tenants.

But property owner Ken Worden said he believed it would be helpful to have the building fully leased out. He added he was happy to lease the space to the Moslem Center because of problems he's had leasing the spaces to small, independent stores and restaurants.

"It just made sense to me to do it, even though it's not your typical retail tenant," he said.
 
But the measure failed to win enough votes to approve the use variance. Board members Frank Herbert, Frank Valchek, Michael Volpe and Marian Fenwick supported the variance, while Helen Haines, John Stamler and Curtis Suraci voted against it, leaving the measure one vote short of the five needed for approval.