Controversial Islamic Mosque Project To Be Discussed Tonight

Basking Ridge, NJ -- Residents will be able to voice their opinion on the proposal to build a 4,250-square-foot Islamic mosque at the continued public hearing, tonight at 7:30 p.m.

The Basking Ridge Planning Board are slated to deliberate on the proposed project and vote on the application.

The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge, Inc. proposed building the mosque at 124 Church Street, a historic section of the township back in September 2012.

Opponents of the plan, members of Bernards Township Citizens for Responsible Development have attended a number of planning board meetings since the proposal was first presented.

“We are concerned about the impact of the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge’s (ISBR) development proposal to convert a current residential property to effectively commercial use by building a nearly 4,500 square foot Mosque complete with a 107 space parking lot on Church Street in Liberty Corner,” the group posted on their website btcrd.org.

The BTCRD’s main concerns are:

• public safety and traffic congestion at the accident-prone intersection of Somerville Rd/ Church Street and the surrounding busy intersections
• the proximity of the development to the Liberty Corner Firehouse
• the outsized scale of the proposed project
• the proposed hours of use, which include activities at least 5-7 days a week
• proposed lighting for the structure and parking lot
• potential wetlands and environmental issues
• the inevitability of future growth, given statements by ISBR representatives that the facility will be adequate for only 10 years