Islamic Society Files Suit Against Basking Ridge Over Denial of Mosque

Basking Ridge, NJ -- The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge has filed a lawsuit against Bernards Township over the denial to allow the construction of a mosque on Church Street.

Filed against the township and 15 individuals on the township committee and planning board, the lawsuit comes three months after the planning board voted down the ISBR's application to build a 4,250-square-foot Islamic mosque in the historic section of the township.

"I have lived in this Township for almost 40 years. I have been deeply engaged in the community -- I served on the Board of Education and the Township Committee," stated Islamic Society of Basking Ridge's president, Dr. Mohammad Ali Chaudry. "I even served as the Mayor. I was deeply saddened by the reaction to our attempt to build a mosque. My community needs a place to pray in our own town. We bent over backwards to try and satisfy every demand made of us, no matter how unreasonable. We are very disappointed that it came to this and will pursue our rights in court."

Bernards Township issued a written response to the suit filed on Thursday.

“Bernards Township is an inclusive and warm community," Bernards Township Mayor Carol Bianchi said in a statement. "The allegations in the lawsuit do not represent our community. It is not unusual for an applicant to appeal a denial, and it is their right. The Planning Board made its decision and now the court will decide whether to uphold that decision. We look forward to a satisfactory resolution of this matter."

The application was originally filed in September 2012 and had created controversy among residents. On Dec. 9, 2015, the planning board unanimously voted down the application in front of a packed meeting room filled with hundreds of residents.

The preliminary and final site plan approvals were both unanimously voted down for a number of reasons, authorities said:

• Not providing a satisfactory buffer between the project and residential properties;
• Problems with the internal circulation of the site, such as width of parking spaces and how drivers were to manuveur around the parking lot;
• Having a non-compliant storm water plan;
• And having insufficient access for fire and emergency vehicles.

However the lawsuit is claiming the denial of the application was much more than that what the town claimed and was actually a culmination of anti-Islamic attitudes in the community, according to nj.com.

Bridgewater

Bridgewater Township faced a similar issue with the Al Falah Center.

Al Falah had proposed building an Islamic mosque in at 1475 Mountain Top Road in Bridgewater, but was denied. The Center in turned sued the township in April 2011 claiming anti-Islamic attitudes as well.

The suit was settled in December 2014 when the township agreed to give Al Falah a 10.75 acre property on Route 202/206 along with a $5 million payment from the Township’s insurance carrier for alleged damages, costs and attorney fees.