Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Land for mosque bought in Union
Supporters will go back to board for approval
By Gina Holt
Enquirer contributor
UNION Though plans to build a mosque on Mount Zion Road have not been approved, supporters of the Islamic worship facility have bought the property anyway.
Florence Urgent Care, whose president is Dr. Mohamed Zineddin, paid $317,500 for almost 29 acres at 1290 Mount Zion Road on Aug. 30, according to a deed filed at the Boone County Clerk's office.
Dr. Zineddin purchased the property from Paul J. and Mary C. Webster, the deed shows.
The sale came 11 days after the Union Board of Adjustments denied Dr. Zineddin an application for a zoning change to allow a mosque to be built in a residential area near the Plantation Pointe subdivision. The board said his application didn't provide enough information.
But the unanimous vote came after 2 1/2 hours of public testimony before about 350 people, during which many residents of Plantation Pointe opposed the project, saying it would bring excessive traffic, negatively impact the neighborhood and devalue property.
Mr. Webster, reached Monday, would not confirm the sale.
Dr. Zineddin did not return phone calls.
Salam Safi of Union, a promoter of the mosque, said the group plans to approach the Board of Adjustments again.
Mosque supporters were ill-prepared before, said Ms. Safi, 19. They're going to go back to the zoning committee to see if they'll approve it. They'll be 100 percent more prepared this time.
Dr. Zineddin did not provide any drawings of the mosque at the earlier board meeting, but the application showed it to be an 11,100-square-foot building with a parking lot for 120 vehicles. The application also proposed a school.
Nobody told them they needed drawings, Ms. Safi said, adding they thought they could have the idea approved first and then the design.
She said they also didn't realize that a full-time school would not be permitted in that area. Now, mosque supporters likely will propose building a Sunday school, she said.
Boone County planners remain cautious about the project.
Even if they present more information, it's not guaranteed, said Todd Morgan, a county planner.
Laverne Hay, a neighbor of site, said she doesn't care what the facility looks like.
I don't think it's a good thing for a community, Mrs. Hay said. I just don't want it, period.
She said people have told her the facility will be used to house traveling Muslims.
That's very inaccurate. A mosque is a place of worship, Ms. Safi said.
Some directors will allow people to stay in the mosque for one or two nights, she added.
The next deadline for zoning applications is Oct. 17; those would be reviewed in November.
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Land for mosque bought in Union