Residents Applaud Recommendation For No Houses of Worship on Residential Roads

With testimony only heard from one witness for the application to build a on Mountain Top Road, Monday's planning board hearing was continued until March 28—unless the township council approves an ordinance at its next meeting to prevent places of worship in areas not near major thoroughfares.

Following its introduction before the township council Feb. 17, the planning board was asked Monday to consider an ordinance that would ban houses of worship from locations without access to major thoroughfares.

Despite comments from those in favor of the application for a mosque, citing an elimination of a right to pray in Bridgewater, the planning board unanimously approved the referral, and the ordinance will now go back to the township council for approval. There will be a public hearing during the township council meeting Thursday in the  auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

The that would accommodate up to 500 people for special services twice a year, and 250 people for non-event worship attendance on Friday afternoons.

Originally, the plans had included accommodations for a daycare facility and elementary school, but representatives for the application said Monday that those have been removed because of concerns from residents.

If the ordinance is approved at the March 3 council meeting, the applicant will then need a variance to build the mosque in the proposed location because it will no longer be a permitted use.

Because of that, the planning board will no longer be able to hear the application, and the applicant will instead be required to go before the Bridgewater Township Zoning Board of Adjustment.

According to Bridgewater Township Planner Scarlett Doyle, the proposed ordinance is in keeping with the township’s master plan.

“It is consistent with our reexamination report,” she said. “I am recommending adoption with regard to its consistency with the master plan.”

But many who support the mosque application questioned why this ordinance was introduced after the application had already been submitted to the board.

“In 2005, the planning board adopted the master plan with increased side yards for houses of worship and an enhanced rear yard near residential properties,” said Lloyd Tubman, attorney for the Chughtai Foundation, which submitted the application for the mosque. “These regulations were adopted by ordinances in 2007.”

“What has changed since then?” she asked. “Only this application.”

All existing houses of worship that are not on major thoroughfares, Tubman said, would be grandfathered into the ordinance, and only this proposed one would be prohibited.

“If you were thinking of consistency, take into account that this ordinance cloaks houses of worship with country clubs, none of which are being proposed,” she said.

Basking Ridge resident Syed Siddiq questioned the timing of the ordinance, citing the fact that the application was filed in early January before the ordinance was even discussed.

“I know there are pressures putting this through, and everyone is asking to not have the mosque,” he said. “But the banquet hall was not a problem, and now the mosque is a problem.”

Sabrina Mirza, of Bridgewater, said she understands the concerns about the mosque, but also knows that the approval of the ordinance would block a mosque on any local streets. But there are other houses of worship in the township already that are on local residential streets.

“All we are asking for are the same rights as the other houses of worship in the town,” she said.

For some residents, they wanted to make it clear that their concerns are not about the idea of a mosque in the town, but are —that will attract a large amount of people—in the middle of a residential area.

“Bridgewater is known to be finicky with its zoning and building permits,” Bridgewater resident Greta Boehme said. “I don’t see how the board can approve a large public and private building in a residential area.”

Bridgewater resident Tom Reilly said he would absolutely be in favor of building a mosque in town—just not on Mountain Top Road.

“You have to take into account where things are being built,” he said. “Bridgewater is a town with many different houses of worship. All we are saying is that we need to find a place where everyone will be happy.”

Many residents implored the board to approve the referral and send the ordinance for approval from the township council, emphasizing that their concerns need to be heard. They said there needs to be an understanding of the kind of traffic that will envelop Mountain Top Road if the mosque were to be approved, as well as what the building could do to property values.

Bridgewater resident Frances Hozeny said she does not like the idea that opposing the mosque makes others believe they are racist.

“Why is it that every time you oppose something in this country, you’re labeled racist?” she asked. “But should we be subjected to something that will be detrimental to our residential neighborhood and change its character?”

Bridgewater resident Peter Mone said he is concerned with the nature of houses of worship these days, as they are no longer small buildings, but instead are larger institutions.

“The referral seems to be going in the right direction,” he said. “What has changed is the nature of houses of worship. Now, their size is far more akin to a business.”