Lower Southampton officials are waiting to see if members of an Islamic community center will appeal a recent zoning board rejection of their plan to open a mosque.
The township’s zoning hearing board members unanimously rejected the variance request from Al-Asr Community Center in the 70 block of Buck Road for the religious sanctuary at their meeting Aug. 4.
Members of the center proposed using multiple rented units in a business park where the community center is located to open a mosque and community space primarily serving the Uzbek Muslim community.
The 11-unit business park where the center is located is in an industrial zone where religious uses
aren't permitted.
Lower Southampton Zoning Officer Michael Italia said they haven't received any notice of an appeal filed with the Bucks County Common Pleas Court. No appeal had been filed as of Aug. 28, according to the county’s civil docket.
Attorney Mike Feinman, who represents the community center owners, didn't immediately respond to a voice message left Aug. 28.
The zoning hearing board decision had not been released as of Aug. 28, but a main sticking point was a concern that the business park, which has multiple tenants, didn't have enough parking to accommodate worshipers, Italia said.
The business park has an estimated 94 to 206 shared parking spaces.
The proposed mosque would open from sunrise to sunset daily for the five daily prayer times of the Islamic faith with a maximum of approximately 10 to 15 people expected at the property throughout the day, said Imam Bashir Balal Aygun, the spiritual leader of the congregation.
Aygun estimated that the Friday mandatory congregational prayer service would attract the largest number of worshipers, between 100-150 people, between 1-3 p.m.
The hearings on the mosque proposal attracted more than 200 people, with the high attendance prompting it to be moved to the Poquessing Middle School auditorium.
Supporters of the proposal argued that practicing Muslims have few nearby mosques where they can worship and a Feasterville location would allow them to attend prayers more easily. Bucks County currently has four mosques in Bensalem, Levittown and Lower Makefield.
Opponents argued that the mosque wasn't an appropriate use because of the lack of parking and concerns it would bring more traffic to Buck Road.
In addition to prayer services, the mosque could host large gatherings during major Muslim holidays and after-school activities, specifically hour-long Quran lessons for kids twice a week. The classes will be restricted to about 20 kids, center leaders said.
Crime and Courts Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Islamic center in Feasterville may still appeal mosque decision
