Tag: muslims of long island

The Town of Oyster Bay authorized a settlement on Tuesday evening with Muslims on Long Island (MOLI) to allow a reduced expansion of the Masjid Al-Baqi mosque at the intersection of Stewart and Central avenues in Bethpage.

As part of the agreement, the mosque’s size will be restricted to 9,950 square feet at or above ground level, with a self-imposed maximum occupancy of 295 individuals — a reduction from the 464 people permitted in an earlier proposal, the town confirmed. The smaller building allows for more on-site parking, and there is a discussion regarding a nearby property that could be used for additional parking spaces.

The settlement was reached as the case approached federal court, following the breakdown of a previous agreement between the two parties regarding the mosque’s expansion plans.

“I see that we have been able to achieve what the community has asked for what we believe creates a safer situation,” Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said at the town board meeting on Tuesday.

MOLI will fund a crossing guard for 18 months after receiving a certificate of occupancy and collaborate with the town on an improved crosswalk, a traffic warning signal and other safety upgrades.

The two parties were set to begin a federal trial on Monday but had engaged in mediation to resolve the dispute and avoid further costly litigation. The trial was to take place after a proposed settlement between the two parties collapsed in late August.

Earlier that month, the town had reached a $3.95 million settlement with MOLI, agreeing to approve its plans for a new mosque on the site of an existing house of worship in Bethpage and resolving an existing lawsuit over the project. The town was also to repeal a 2022 law that required significantly more parking from new places of worship. Under the earlier settlement agreement, MOLI could demolish the two current buildings on the property and build a single new structure with on-site parking and design elements that were aimed at mitigating the town’s traffic and safety concerns in the surrounding area.

A “Stop the Mosque” petition on change.org has garnered 2,055 verified signatures urging the town board to vote against the mosque, saying the location “is not a place to add congestion.” But over the summer, statements on the petition web page brought “a flood of racist commentary online,” stripping away “any pretense that this dispute was about parking or traffic,” according to a court filing.

The town had maintained at the time that it withdrew from that earlier settlement because of concerns about traffic safety and parking. A town attorney has said that the intersection of Stewart and Central avenues sees more than 4,775 red light violations each year.

At Tuesday night’s hearing, the public was provided with an opportunity to provide comment about the resolution, though no one stepped forward.

The town board approved the settlement resolution with a 6-1 vote, with Councilman Lou Imbroto casting the only dissenting vote.