Basking Ridge Settles Mosque Lawsuits Tuesday Night

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Despite opposition from residents, Bernards Township Planning Board and Committee agreed Tuesday night to settle both pending lawsuits with the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge and United States Department of Justice.

It is unclear what the settlements entail and if the settlement will be allowing the 4,250-square-foot mosque to be built at 124 Church Street, a historic section of the township.

"I know residents expressed frustration with the process and inability to view drafts or understand the settlement but it is what we are required to do under federal law," Mayor Carolyn Graziano said at the meeting. "As soon as we are able to give you more information, we will."

The settlements will become public once all parties including Bernards Township officials, the ISBR and USDOJ sign and agree.

The settlements were voted and passed at a special meeting on May 23. The Planning Board and Committee discussed for just over an hour before coming out into open session. Planning Board members voted 6 to 1 to settle the lawsuit with the ISBR and 5 to 2 to settle the lawsuit with the USDOJ.

The lawsuit by the The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge was filed in March after the Bernards Township Planning Board voted down the application to build an Islamic mosque on Church Street.

Since the ISBR's suit, the United States Justice Department also filed a lawsuit in November 2016 against Bernards Township alleging discrimination after the township's Planning Board decision.

A packed town hall full of residents spoke following the planning board's vote to try and encourage committee members not settle as well.

Throughout the 40 minutes of comments, the majority of residents repeated their pleas that the mosque proposal was not a good idea because of its location and not discrimination.

One ISBR member did speak first about the benefits of having a place of worship for her children and the community. She cited how the ISBR frequently partners with other organizations to volunteer.

Other residents disagreed.

"Some ISBR members say they want to be included," said one resident. "Well shoving their mosque project down the throats of residents is certainty not accomplishing it."

However, residents continued to mention that they felt the ISBR were welcomed in the township but needed to pick another location. One resident, Carrie Samuels noted that this isn't about discrimination since the town had selected as Mohammad Ali Chaudry as mayor following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Chaudry is the president of the ISBR.

"We are not saying they don't need a place to worship, we are saying they need a more appropriate place to worship," Samuels said.

Many also voiced their concerns over not knowing what the settlement entailed.

"People remain in dark of any detail of the settlement," said one resident. "We don’t know if they will build a mosque, we don't know if it will effect traffic, trees, sewer..."

Committeewoman Carol Bianchi expressed compassion to the residents concerns following the public comment session.

"It is frustrating that with the legal process you don't know the details of what we are discussing and I understand why you feel the way you do," Bianchi said.

Despite hearing the residents' comments, the township committee passed both settlements. All committee members voted yes, except John Carpenter who voted no to the settlements with the ISBR and USDOJ.

(Screenshot of the Bernards Township special meeting on May 23)

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