4 10 101 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/a57d30efe01da9485b73be02e7e67926.jpg 730aa3acbbd02c650db737459f5d5b6a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Michigan Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. An Islamic group named Adam explored several properties over a five year span in order to develop an Islamic center. The Zoning Board of Appeals for the city of Troy, Michigan denied the variances that Adam requested for their community center. As a result, the DOJ began an investigation into Troy’s zoning practices and filed a lawsuit against Troy. The Michigan division of CAIR also filed a lawsuit on behalf of Adam Both of these lawsuits are ongoing. Date 2018-cont. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 3635 Rochester Road, Troy, MI 48083 Proposed Project Islamic center Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Adam Community Center Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Mi_08 Location The location of the interview Troy, MI Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance administrative denial Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications rejected (legal action ongoing) Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. The Adam Community Center (“Adam”) is a community of Sunni Muslims in Troy, Michigan. For seven years, the group has struggled to get their projects approved by the city. In 2013, a real estate company purchased a former restaurant and planned to develop it into a community center for Adam. At a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, however, city officials designated the proposed project as a “place of worship” and the seller of the property accepted a different offer (Troy BZA minutes 2013). In 2017, the Adam Community Center approached the City of Troy with a list of several different properties in order to be advised on which ones may be best suited for development. Allegedly, the city refused to assist Adam and advised them to look for properties in neighboring cities (United States if America v. City of Troy, Michigan). *A year later, Adam had entered a preliminary agreement to purchase their current property. In order to develop this property and use it as a place of worship, Adam requested variances at a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. Unanimously, the Zoning Board of Appeals rejected Adam’s request for variances. The rejection of these variances caused the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to file a lawsuit on behalf of Adam in the Eastern District of Michigan. The complaint, which was filed in November of 2018, outlines numerous allegations of Troy’s discriminatory behavior, including an instance where Adam attempted to purchase an existing church, but residents of Troy learned about the purchase and brought in Christian investors to buy out the church from under Adam (Adam Community Center v. City of Troy). The lawsuit accuses Troy of violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) on three counts: depriving Adam of their religious exercise by imposing a substantial burden, discrimination on the basis of religion, and imposing unequal restrictions against religious institutions (Adam Community Center v. City of Troy).* In response to this lawsuit, the City of Troy requested a dismissal, which was rejected by a federal judge. In 2019, the United States Department of Justice also filed a lawsuit against Troy. The suit outlines similar allegations against Troy, but only alleges that Troy violated RLUIPA on two counts: imposing a substantial burden on Adam and imposing unequal restrictions against religious institutions. The DOJ’s lawsuit makes no mention of discrimination on the basis of religion. This is likely because it is more difficult to prove religious discrimination in a court of law. Both lawsuits are still ongoing as of June 2020. Last Updated Date revised. July 2, 2020 Year Year the case began. 2018 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Troy, MI Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. MI_08, occurring in Troy, MI, 48083 from 2018 to present Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Stewart Zelnick Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/6249f0368c74ed42607be16e5e03897e.jpg d9ae4c74651cc4515a711d130b21b62d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Florida Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Fl_08 Location The location of the interview Orange County, FL Date February-April 2018 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. The Aisha Cultural Centers seeks to convert a landscaping warehouse into a community center to provide youth programs and social services. Planning staff recommends approval, but the county’s Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) votes to deny the center’s application for a special exception because of concern over a petition signed by residents in opposition to the planned center. The Board of County Commissioners does not follow the BZA’s recommendation and votes unanimously to approve the center’s application. Commissioners note that the opposition includes many members of the public not residing in the vicinity of the proposed site and that concerns over additional traffic and noise had been addressed. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 1311 Hancock Lone Palm Rd, Orlando, FL 32828 Proposed Project The Aisha Cultural Center seeks to convert a landscaping warehouse into a community center to provide youth programs and social services. Although the zoning allows for religious land use, a special exception is required because the county’s future land use designation is not consistent with the underlying zoning. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="http://aishacenter.com/">Aisha Cultural Center</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance public campaign; administrative denial [initial] Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The Board of County Commissioners does not follow the BZA’s recommendation for denial but instead votes unanimously to approve the application with eleven conditions that had been recommended by planning staff. The project is in the first phase of construction. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. The Islamic nonprofit Aisha Cultural Center Inc. (ACC) has been offering religious, educational, and social activities to the East Orlando Muslim community at its location on South Alafaya Trail since 2014. In 2017, it purchased a former landscaping warehouse on the east side of Orange County to expand services such as youth programs and college prep tutoring. ACC applied for a special exception to allow a religious facility with ancillary uses, including worshipping, social services, evening gatherings, and SAT programs. The application also included a request for a variance to allow unpaved overflow parking. Although the property was zoned agricultural (A-2, farmland rural district), which allowed for religious land use, a special exception was required because the county’s future land use designation (low-medium density residential) was not consistent with the underlying A-2 zoning. Upon receiving ACC’s application, county planning staff sent out 85 notifications to residents in a 600-ft radius of the property for a community meeting on January 10, 2017, to explain the proposed project and answer questions. No members of the public attended the meeting. The Aisha Cultural Center’s application for a special exception was placed on the agenda for a regularly scheduled meeting of Orange County’s Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) on February 1, 2018. Meeting all code criteria, the proposal came to the BZA with a staff recommendation for approval. The attorney for ACC, Tara Tedrow, presented the proposal highlighting, among others, that Orange County Transportation Planning had determined the project would produce de minimis traffic impacts. Furthermore, previously, two other religious communities in the vicinity of the proposed site had been granted a special exception for their religious facilities. During the public comment section, no member of the public spoke up in support of the project. Opposition was represented foremost by Michael Johnson, to whom several other speakers yielded their time. Johnson was given six minutes to address the BZA. (Johnson stated he lived about six miles from the proposed site. However, the address he provided as his residence places him at least 22 miles from the site, according to GoogleMaps.) Before the meeting, the BZA had received 30 to 40 letters expressing opposition to the development. Johnson presented additional petitions to the BZA. Most of the concerns expressed on the petitions were related to the expectation of extra traffic and noise. At least one of the letters expressed Islamophobic sentiments reading, "Keep terrorism out – No to this political system. I don't want the troubles Europe has." The BZA determined that about 40 petitions had come from residents near the proposed site. Johnson also raised concern that the fundraising page on the ACC’s website had included references to additional plans such as a soccer field not included in the official application for the special exception. Concerns about alleged omissions were repeated in a subsequent presentation by Allen Korman, who indicated that he had worked with Johnson to collect the petitions from residents. Korman, who stated he lived about 8.5 miles from the subject property, charged that ACC had omitted activities such as communal Friday prayers and activities by the Aisha School that would lead to occupancy at the proposed site beyond the submitted capacity. ACC’s legal counsel Tedrow responded to comments clarifying that the proposed community center was a low-use facility to provide social and educational services. It would operate separately from the ACC’s property on Alafaya Trail, pictures of which had been shown in the presentations by Johnson and Korman. Tedrow specified further that ACC had worked with county staff and followed their advice when preparing a site plan that was consistent with the surrounding community's character and low-intensity development plans. In their subsequent deliberations, the BZA members expressed low concern over the impact on traffic and noise. Members also voiced that they were surprised by the interest and involvement of residents from outside the immediate vicinity. The unanimous vote to recommend denial of the application acknowledged that about 40 of the petitions in opposition to the project seemed to originate with residents who the project could directly impact. The Board of County Commissioners did not follow the BZA’s recommendation of denial but instead voted unanimously to approve the application for a special exception at its regular meeting on April 10, 2018. Information presented in support of the application included an additional traffic study ACC had performed on March 23. The survey result confirmed the de minimis traffic impacts found by Orange County Transportation Planning. The public comment period lasted about 60 minutes. During that period some of the speakers who had signed up to speak against the project ceded their time to Michael Johnson. Opponents cited arguments made earlier at the BZA meeting over traffic and noise. Different from the previous BZA meeting, however, the public comment section also included statements of support from several community members in attendance. Commissioners acknowledged that the project was consistent with county regulations and that the additional traffic study had eased any concern over adverse traffic impacts on the surrounding community. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacob expressed surprise that many of the opponents did not live near the proposed site. “I can’t recall when all but one person who was opposed were from outside the area and many were from outside of the county,” the mayor said during deliberations. The BCC voted unanimously to approve the application with eleven conditions recommended by the planning staff. They added that the county’s traffic division would reassess traffic conditions every other year to make appropriate recommendations on whether traffic control would be required for future events at the site. The involvement of members of the public opposing the project even though they did not live close to the proposed site was a recurring matter of concern during the deliberations over ACC’s application. In the only available news coverage of the county commission’s meeting on April 10, Channel 9 reported that four residents living close to the site had told reporters they either had not heard anything about the project or thought the petition seemed deceptive. One resident who had signed a petition is quoted stating, “I was just kind of stronghanded into signing a petition I didn’t really know anything about. Pretty much the minute I asked for more information, they kind of walked away” (Seaborn, 2108). A member of ACC who lived in the community close to the site was said to have experienced similarly misleading tactics when Johnson and a partner were canvassing the community around the site for signatures against the project. Johnson had a history of involvement in opposition to building projects by the Muslim community in Orange County. In 2016 he was part of the opposition against a mosque proposed in the town of Windermere (Kerr, 2016). The proposed site was more than 30 miles from his stated residence in Seminole County, FL. References Kerr, Z. (2016, March 31). Developers introduce plans for mosque. Windermere Observer (Winter Garden, FL), p. 5. Retrieved from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?%20p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15CAEC12B5DC6420.">https://infoweb-newsbank-com</a>. Seabrook, L. (2018, April 10). ‘Keep terrorists out’: Residents write to commissioners in response to new Islamic center. ABC-9 WFTV. Retrieved from<a href="https://www.wftv.com/news/local/keep-terrorists-out-residents-write-to-commissioners-in-response-to-new-islamic-center/730348902"> www.wftv.com</a>. Last Updated Date revised. June 10, 2021 Year Year the case began. 2018 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Orange County, FL Description An account of the resource In April 2018, the Orange County Board of Commissioners votes to grant the Aisha Cultural Center permission for a special exception to convert a landscaping warehouse into a community center. Despite the planning staff’s recommendation for approval, the county’s Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) earlier had voted to deny the center’s request because of concern over a petition signed by residents in opposition to the planned center. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Stewart Zelnick Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Approved Community Center Public Campaign Under Construction https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/75778b4520841ac347cdce80f58b4df8.jpg a8bdf0b208d3fb0c30605dadef856d82 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Florida Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. FL_07 Location The location of the interview Port St. Lucie, FL Date February-April 2017 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. Residents protest at a commission meeting against a potential proposal for a mosque within the city of Port. St. Lucie. The Treasure Coast Islamic Society had created a GoFundMe project to help raise $200,000 to purchase a vacant storefront formerly occupied by the Church on the Rock to use as a mosque and weekend Islamic school. The seller did not accept the Muslim community’s purchase offer. By the time of the city commission meeting, the property had already come under contract and was later sold to a Haitian church. Residents, however, continued to mobilize on Facebook and spoke at the commission meeting to decry the possibility of a mosque in the city. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 1481 SW Bougainvillea Ave, Port St. Lucie, FL 34953 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 7J74+WG Port St. Lucie, Florida Proposed Project The Muslim community seeks to use a vacant storefront formerly occupied by a church for use as mosque and weekend Islamic school. It does not require city approval. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Treasure Coast Islamic Society Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance public campaign; bias-related incident Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The seller does not accept the Muslim community’s purchase offer and sells the property to a Haitian church. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Founded in late 2016, the Treasure Coast Islamic Society (TCIS) sought to purchase a building in the city of Port St. Lucie, FL to serve as a house of worship and a weekend Islamic school for local Muslim residents. It would have been the first mosque within the city limits. The Muslim community made an offer on a storefront building occupied by the Church on the Rock that had recently come up for sale. Although the offer was unsuccessful and the building soon came under contract by another Christian community, local opposition to the TCIS’s plan for a new masjid in Port St. Lucie had already been mobilized on social media between February and April in response to a GoFundMe campaign TCIS had created to raise funds to purchase the church property. Public opposition came to a head at a city commission meeting in late April. In anticipation of protests, city officials had increased the police presence at the meeting on April 24, 2017. Opponents speaking out before the city commission against a potential mosque expressed concerns about the anticipated level of noise from daily calls to prayer and expressed fear that the mosque would become a security threat. Some supporters of the local Muslim community attended the meeting but sharply anti-Muslim points of view dominated the public comment section. A local newspaper reported that few who spoke at the city commission meeting were residents of Port St. Lucie but had arrived from outside the city (Rodriguez 2017). Opponents’ statements raised suspicion of Muslims describing Islam as incompatible with and dangerous to America with statements such as, “We don’t need to hear five times a day their prayer. Their culture. You don’t do it here. We are American” (quoted in McRoberts 2017); “I think it’s a bad idea. I don’t think it should happen. We are a Christian nation, we always have been and that should be respected” (quoted in Buczyner 2017); and “Fifteen to 20 percent of their population seeks to destroy and kill you and me” (quoted in Rodriguez 2017). To raise the specter of extremist violence, speakers made reference to Omar Mateen who had attended the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce twenty miles north of Port St. Lucie. Mateen had committed the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando the year before on June 12. City officials responded to the concerns expressed at the meeting by pointing out that the city had not received any official permitting request for a local mosque but that any such request would be treated in accordance with local zoning regulations that pertained to all houses of worship regardless of the specifics of an applicant’s religion. In the case of an application to operate a house of worship out of a vacant storefront with fewer than 3,000 square feet of space--as would have been the case with the building of the former Church on the Rock-- no approval would be required. In his remarks at the city commission meeting, Mayor Greg Oravec went beyond clarifying the city’s permitting process to remind opponents that constitutional rights are afforded to all citizens saying, “We don’t get to pick and choose which freedoms are afforded to our citizens, or to pick and choose among our citizens. We fight for them all” (quoted in McRoberts 2017). Public response to the city council meeting criticized the anti-Muslim statements made by opponents but generally lauded the city’s response to the controversy. A spokesperson for the Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) rejected opponents’ religious intolerance as a threat to the wider community (Rodriguez 2017), whereas the editorial board of The Stewart News gave the mayor a “thumbs-up” for his handling of the controversy and praised his public remarks that the rights and freedoms protected in the U.S. Constitution also applied to Muslim Americans (Thumbs up 2017). The members of the TCIS responded to the controversy with the commitment to continue their search for a suitable place for their community to meet and practice their religion (Byczyner 2017). Current data on mosques and Islamic centers in the area of St. Lucie County, however, suggests that the community has not yet realized its plan. The opposition to the plans of the Treasure Coast Islamic Society to open a mosque in Port St. Lucie occurred, as mentioned above, in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting in neighboring Orlando. The Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, which the shooter had attended, had been subject to threats and intimidation campaigns in 2016 (Broad 2016, June 17; Elliott 2016, June 27). An attack on an individual community member in front of the Islamic center was reported in July 2016 (Tishchenko 2016, July 3). The campaign against the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce culminated in an arson attack on September 12, 2016. The fire destroyed parts of the historic building that housed the Islamic center, formerly known as Dutton Memorial Church, and caused the community to relocate to a new property in Fort Pierce the following year. Anti-Muslim mobilization, however, was not a new phenomenon. The events in 2016 and 2017 had been preceded by other cases of opposition to Muslim building projects in St. Lucie County. Prior cases included local opposition to a proposed mosque in 2008 [FL_03] and a Muslim cemetery in 2013 [FL_05], both in White City. References <ul> <li>Buczyner, Michael. (2017, April 25). Religion rift in Port St. Lucie as Muslim group plans to build mosque. CBS-12 News. Retrieved from <a href="https://cbs12.com/news/local/religion-rift-in-port-st-lucie-as-muslim-group-plans-to-build-mosque">https://cbs12.com/news/local/religion-rift-in-port-st-lucie-as-muslim-group-plans- to-build-mosque</a>.</li> <li>McRoberts, Meghan. (2017, April 25). Rumored mosque in Port St. Lucie sparks controversy: City leaders say no plan to build mosque. NBC-5 WPTV. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.wptv.com/news/region-st-lucie-county/port-st-lucie/rumored-mosque-in-port-st-lucie-sparks-controversy-city-leaders-say-there-is-no-plan">https://www.wptv.com/news/region-st-lucie- county/port-st-lucie/rumored-mosque-in-port-st-lucie-sparks-controversy-city-leaders-say-there-is-no-plan</a>.</li> <li>Rodriguez, Nicole. (2017, April 26). Shaping our future - Church won’t be purchased by Muslim group. St. Lucie News Tribune. Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Rodriguez, Nicole. (2017, April 25). Potential mosque sparks debate - Concern voiced at PSL council meeting. St. Lucie News Tribune (Fort Pierce, FL). Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Rodriquez, Nicole. (2017, April 25). Port St. Lucie church won't be purchased by Muslim group for mosque. TCPalm. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/shaping-our-future/property-values/2017/04/25/port-st-lucie-church-wont-purchased-muslim-group-mosque/100878316">https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/shaping-our-future/property-values/2017/04/ 25/port-st-lucie-church-wont-purchased-muslim-group-mosque/100878316</a>.</li> <li>Thumbs up - Port St. Lucie mayor gets it right on mosque. (2017, April 29). The Stuart News. Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Westbury, Anthony. (2017, Apr 28). In mosque protest, we really showed our ugly side again. TCPalm. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/columnists/anthony-westbury/2017/04/28/anthony-westbury-mosque-protest-we-reallyshowed-our-ugly-side-again-video/100948524">https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/columnists/anthony-westbury/2017/04/28/anthony- westbury-mosque-protest-we-reallyshowed-our-ugly-side-again-video/100948524</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 22, 2020 Year Year the case began. 2017 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Port St. Lucie, FL Description An account of the resource In late April 2017, residents protest at a city commission meeting against a potential proposal for a mosque by the Treasure Coast Islamic Society in the City of Port. St. Lucie. By the time of the city commission meeting, the property is already under contract to be sold to a Haitian church. Residents, however, continue to mobilize on Facebook and speak at the commission meeting to decry the possibility of a mosque in the city. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Stewart Zelnick Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Mosque Not Built Prior Church Use Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/b34eeb93547e9c598b29d2be90e1fa14.png ea528620159bfb47f4e09b04e0968baf Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Florida Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Fl_06 Location The location of the interview Windermere, FL Date March-August 2016 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. Residents of Windermere, Florida push back against a planned mosque in a residential area along the northern shore of Lake Mabel. The project, a 6,900-square-foot mosque in Spanish architectural style, requires a special exception under Orange County’s zoning regulations. Opponents comment mostly on the impact the mosque would have on the area’s rural nature, but during information meetings about the planned project and at the meeting before the Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustments negative statements about Islam and mosques creep into the conversation as well. After more than two hours of presentations, public comment, and deliberations, the BAZ votes unanimously (5-0) to deny the Muslim community’s request for a special exception. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 8806 Winter Garden Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32836 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. CFP6+V5 Orlando, Florida Proposed Project The Muslim community submits plans for a 6,900-square-foot mosque in Spanish architectural style. The project requires a special exception under Orange County’s zoning regulations. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Windermere Religious Center Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The BZA denies the Muslim community’s request for a special exeption. Following the denial, the Islamic Center of Orlando opens a prayer room (musholla) in a rental property at a different location in Windermere. Last Updated Date revised. June 3, 2021 Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. As in other metro areas around the country, the Muslim community’s growth in Orlando was prompting some Islamic centers to expand facilities and others to establish new houses of worship in underserved areas. In early 2016, a local Muslim group loosely affiliated with the Islamic Center of Orlando, which in the same year would seek permission from Orange County to expand its main facility on Ruby Lake Road (Baqureo, 2016), was planning to build a new mosque in a residential area along the northern shore of Lake Mabel. The Windermere Religious Center, a 6,900-square-foot mosque in Spanish architectural style, required a special exception under Orange County’s zoning regulations. After several public information sessions with subsequent revisions to the proposal, the Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) denied the Muslim community’s request for a special exception. The land for the Windermere Religious Center was zoned rural-county estate (R-CE), which allowed for houses of worship as special-exception use. The property was privately owned by a member of the local Muslim community, who wanted to donate the land to construct the mosque. Initial plans envisioned a structure that could accommodate up to 120 worshippers (Kerr 2016). At two public information meetings in March and July, the developer introduced the project emphasizing that “the applicant had worked hard to make the facility as aesthetically pleasing and screened as possible in [an] attempt to appease nearby residents” (Hendrix, 2016). The building consciously emulated the architectural style of the area’s upscale residential homes. It did not include visibly Islamicate elements such as a minaret or dome. Other changes to the initial plans that followed from concerns expressed at the information sessions included restrictions on lighting and noise (ibid.). Residents remained overwhelmingly opposed to the project. Concerns focused mostly on expected changes to the area’s rural character and on the mosque’s environmental impact. “Any large facility would take away from what makes the area a great place to live,” stated one local resident (“Residents Fight Mosque Plan,” 2016, March 11). At the two public information meetings with developers and county officials, residents reiterated that the project was out of place in a low-density residential area with single-family homes. The environmental impact of the development on wetlands and the lake’s water level was a matter of concern as well (Kerr, 2016, March 31). Although zoning issues were at the forefront of the debate, religious intolerance also appeared to be a motivating factor for some in the opposition. "[T]here were some indirect accusations of what Islam and what mosques have,” remarked Rasha Mubarak, a member of the Muslim community, after the first public meeting (“Proposed Mosque,” 2016, March 17). She continued, "Some people were very clear and precise with not wanting our religion there" (ibid.). The opposition included people from outside Windermere, such as Michael Johnson, with a history of opposing Muslim building projects in the Orlando metro area. In addition to presenting petitions he had collected against the mosque, Johnson spoke before the Board of Zoning Adjustments alleging the Muslim community deliberately had provided “erroneous and false information” in its application. After more than two hours of presentations, public comment, and deliberations, the Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) voted unanimously (5-0) to deny the Muslim community’s request for a special exception at its August 4 meeting. In introducing the case to the BZA, county staff had expressed concerns regarding the development primarily because it would introduce non-residential use into an otherwise residential area, which was rural in nature. Staff also noted that other religious institutions of comparable size had been approved in the same zone within a .5-mile radius but that these were closer to more densely populated areas. The Muslim community was represented by the engineering team who in their presentation sought to demonstrate that the application fulfilled the county’s six requirements for a special exception. Public comments were evenly split between those speaking in favor and against the project. Opponents underscored their apprehension over potential future growth and increased attendance by showing pictures of overflow parking at the Islamic Center of Orlando’s central mosque on Ruby Lake Road. At least one of the BZA members echoed the concern. It took the BZA fewer than ten minutes to deliberate after the public comment section had been closed. The motion to deny the special exception carried unanimously (5-0). “We want to be inclusive, but it’s not the right project for this particular lot,” explained the chair of the board as he closed the meeting. The denial came at a time of increased vulnerability of Muslim communities following the June 2016 nightclub shooting in Orlando. In the incident’s wake, numerous mosques in Florida, and across the U.S., were subject to <a href="http://cbs12.com/news/local/south-florida-mosques-receive-letters-calling-for-genocide">intimidation campaigns</a>. Other mosques and Islamic centers in Florida such as the <a href="https://usmc.ecdsomeka.org/items/show/18">Al-Amin Islamic Center</a> were vandalized or, like the <a href="https://www.icfp-fl.com/">Islamic Center of Fort Pierce</a>, targets of arson attacks. But the denial also was reminiscent of earlier difficulties for Windermere Muslims to establish a house of worship in the area. In 2014, the County had rejected a special exception petition by a Muslim couple to construct a mosque on a vacant lot northeast of Lake Tibet. With 13,000 square feet, the mosque would have been nearly twice as large as the one proposed by the Windermere Religious Center (Wood, 2016, August 19). The Windermere area to this date lacks a purpose-built mosque or Islamic center. To address the worship needs of Muslim residents of Windermere, Lake Mable, Lake Tibet, and Lake Butler, the <a href="https://www.icorlando.org/">Islamic Center of Orlando</a> recently established a prayer space, the Windermere Musholla, in a commercial property in Winter Garden. References <ul> <li>Baquero, Gaby. (2016, December 1). Mosque seeks expansion. Windermere Observer (Winter Garden, FL), p. A1. Retrieved from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?%20p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/16171242F31898D0.">https://infoweb-newsbank-com</a>.</li> <li>Hendrix, Danielle. (2016, July 28). More details emerge about proposed mosque. Southwest Orange Observers, p. 1. Retrieved from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?%20p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15EB41890A680830.">https://infoweb-newsbank-com</a>.</li> <li>Kerr, Zak. (2016, March 31). Developers introduce plans for mosque. Windermere Observer (Winter Garden, FL), p. 5. Retrieved from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?%20p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15CAEC12B5DC6420">https://infoweb-newsbank-com</a>.</li> <li>Kerr, Zak. (2016, March 25). Community meeting addresses mosque. Windermere Observer. Retrieved from <a>www.orangeobserver.com</a>.</li> <li>Proposed mosque has some Windermere residents concerned. (2016, March 17). ABC - 9 WFTV: Web Edition Articles (Orlando, FL). Retrieved from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?%20p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15BA9B9B1B1F5C00.">https://infoweb-newsbank-com</a>.</li> <li>Residents fight mosque plan on Windermere Road. (2016, March 11). ABC - 9 WFTV: Web Edition Articles (Orlando, FL). Retrieved from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?%20p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15B8FB3830882DD8">https://infoweb-newsbank-com</a>.</li> <li>Wood, Debra. (2016, August 19). Keene’s Pointe resident hopes to build mosque: Many express concern over land use. Southwest Orlando Bulletin. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.southwestorlandobulletin.com/keenes-pointe-resident-hopes-build-mosque.">www.southwestorlandobulletin.com</a>. </li> </ul> Year Year the case began. 2016 Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Windermere, FL Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Stewart Zelnick Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Description An account of the resource In early August 2016 and after more than two hours of presentations, public comment, and deliberations, the Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustments votes unanimously to deny the Muslim community’s request for a special exception to build a mosque in a residential area along the northern shore of Lake Mabel. Opponents comment mostly on the impact the mosque would have on the area’s rural nature, but during information meetings about the planned project and at the meeting before the BZA negative statements about Islam and mosques creep into the conversation as well. Denied Mosque Not Built Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/4a6d8fa59390954437d6a9ec4b7f836d.JPG cacf5a218f9817793739645c0f75c8b8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Florida Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Fl_03 Location The location of the interview White City, FL Date November 2008-February 2009 Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. It took the Muslim Friends of Florida almost a decade before they could celebrate Ramadan in their own Islamic center. Their first attempt to build a mosque on a 3-acre lot in White City encountered substantial community opposition when MFF submitted its proposal to St. Lucie County in 2008. Eventually, a compromise was found that allowed MFF to receive the necessary permits from the county, but the project never moved to construction because of financial difficulties. It would take another five years before MFF, now operating as the Islamic Association of Treasure Coast, established the Islamic Center of Treasure Coast at its current location in Fort Pierce. In 2008, the MFF made plans for a purpose-built mosque in a rural area of White City. The group had been in the Treasure Coast region since the early 1970s where its members had participated in prayer services at other area mosques. The plan for their own mosque took concrete form in November 2008 when the group submitted a proposal for an 18,000-square-foot facility replete with Islamicate architectural elements including a dome and spire. In addition to a prayer hall for an estimated average of 50 worshippers during Friday prayers, the building also included space for social and educational events (Pfahler, 2008, December 4). A rezoning application was required because only one of the two parcels on which the structure was to be built had been zoned for a house of worship. The other was zoned for residential development. Public opposition was first formed at a Planning Commission meeting in November and a public information session MFF held to discuss the project with the community. It reached a peak at the subsequent County Commission meeting on December 4. More than 100 residents were in attendance. Most of those speaking out against the mosque during the three-hour public comment section cited concerns about the proposed project’s size, drainage issues, and negative effects on property values. A property appraiser who spoke on behalf of opposing residents reinforced the concern over property values by comparing the project to the construction of a Home Depot in a residential zone (Westbury, 2008, December 4). The project had come before the County Commission with a 7-2 recommendation for approval from the Planning Commission, which in turn had followed staff recommendation for approval. The County Commission, however, tabled the vote on the project with the understanding that MFF would bring back a scaled-down site plan for approval at the next regularly scheduled meeting in February. "We have micromanaged this particular property beyond anything I've ever seen,” remarked one of the Commissioners at the end of the initial re-zoning hearing (Pfahler, 2008, December 4). The County Commission eventually approved MFF’s smaller site plan for a 14,400-square feet facility at its February meeting over strong opposition from local residents. Despite the eventual approval, the project never came to fruition for financial reasons. To accommodate their members’ persistent need for worship space, MFF first rented a storefront in Fort Pierce for several years before finally acquiring a former church building for its Islamic center. In June 2015, just in time for Ramadan celebrations, the new Islamic Center of Treasure Coast opened. References <ul> <li>Pfahler, Eric. (2008, Dec 04). St. Lucie to revisit proposal to build White City mosque. TCPalm. Retrieved from <a href="http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/dec/04/st-lucie-to-revisit-proposal-to-build-white-city">www.tcpalm.com</a>. </li> <li>Westbury, Anthony.(2008, Dec 4). Mosque debate shines dim light on community. TCPalm. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/columnists/anthony-westbury/2017/04/28/anthony-westbury-mosque-debate-shinesdim-light-community/101023194">www.tcpalm.com</a>.</li> </ul> Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 9MW4+98 White City, Florida Coordinates Enter the coordinates for the location, if they are available. 27.395971, -80.344158 Proposed Project The submitted side plan details a 18,000-square-foot facility with Islamicate architectural elements including a prayer hall for an estimated average of 50 worshippers as well as space for social and educational events. The property is partially zoned for religious use. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Muslim Friends of Floridan (dba <a href="http://ictcfl.org">Islamic Association of Treasure Coast</a>) Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance public campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The revised plan receives the county’s approval despite continued public opposition. The project, however, never gets built for financial reasons. Last Updated Date revised. June 12, 2021 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. The St. Lucie County Commission eventually passes a scaled-down site plan for a mosque over strong public opposition. A rezoning application is required because only one of the two parcels on which the structure is to be built is zoned for a house of worship. County staff and the Planning Commission recommend approval over concerns from residents about the project's size and its impacts on the environment and property values. After three hours of public comments, the County Commission strikes a compromise and asks the Muslim community to submit a downsized site plan for approval. The revised plan receives the county’s approval despite continued public opposition but never gets built for financial reasons. Year Year the case began. 2008 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource White City, FL Description An account of the resource In February 2009, the Muslim Friends of Florida eventually receive approval from the St. Lucie County Commission for a scaled-down version of a site-plan they had proposed the previous year. The approval follows months of public opposition that reaches its peak at a County Commission meeting in December 2008. The meeting is attended by more than 100 residents. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Stewart Zelnick Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Approved Mosque Not Built Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/59bcbb4ea8c06069ca65209d32953b44.jpg 6b99c5266ad81c05df6e2f48d6175739 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Jersey Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. NJ_07 Location The location of the interview Bernards Township, NJ Date April 2012-August 2017 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. The Islamic Society of Basking Ridge (ISBR) seeks to construct a 4,252 square-foot mosque on a 4-acre residential lot in Bernards Township, NJ. The Planning Board ultimately denies ISBR’s application even though the ordinance permits houses of worship in residential zones. The denial comes after close to 40 hearings on the issue over three and one-half years of outspoken public public opposition to the project. ISBR files an RLUIPA complaint against the township. Support comes in the form of an amicus brief by the Becket Fund and a broad interfaith coalition as well as a separate RLUIPA complaint by the DOJ. A $3.5 million settlement finally allows the project to move forward even though the Thomas More Law Center seeks to obtain an injunction against the settlement. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 124 Church Street, Bernards Township, NJ 07938 Proposed Project Islamic Center (mosque) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="isbri.org">Islamic Society of Basking Ridge</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance crimes against property (vandalism); public campaign; administrative denial; legislation; legal campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications approved as proposed (after initial denial and lawsuit/settlement) Last Updated Date revised. July 20, 2020 Year Year the case began. 2012 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bernard Township, NJ Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. NJ_07, occurring in Bernard Township, NJ, 07938 from April 2012 to August 2017 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Stewart Zelnick Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/498f20324cafd009060fa99f116943cd.jpg 6b9a3dc8216eb6c73a9d2cd82cd67b48 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Jersey Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. NJ_11 Location The location of the interview City of Vineland Date March 2016-December 2018 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. In February 2017, the Garden State Islamic Center (GSIC) brings an RLUIPA suit against the City of Vineland after the city’s denial of septic permits. The city had approved plans for the mosque in 2012, but when GSIC moved into the second phase of its construction in 2016, the city withheld the necessary permits claiming the project no longer fulfilled sewage regulation requirements. GSIC’s RLUIPA suit alleges decade-long harassment by the city dating back to an earlier lawsuit and settlement over the center’s initial application in 2009. The city files a motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that sewage regulations are not covered by RLUIPA. The District Court of New Jersey denies the motion to dismiss following a Statement of Interest by the DOJ arguing for a broad remedial interpretation of RLUIPA. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 700 Bird Street, Vineland, NJ 08360 Proposed Project Islamic Center (mosque, social space, classrooms, offices) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="http://gsicnj.org/">Garden State Islamic Center</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance administrative denial Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications approved (after initial denial and RLUIPA lawsuit) Year Year the case began. 2016 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource City of Vineland, NJ Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Stewart Zelnick Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Description An account of the resource NJ_11 DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/d81d45d93f38f304d6f9a2529e3a056c.gif df33ce0e473f11aa9c451930b2201c9a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Arkansas Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ar_01 Location The location of the interview Bella Vista City, AR Date September 2010 Year Year the case began. 2010 Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The City has not banned the construction of mosques. There is no mosque in Bella Vista City at present. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In September, Mayor Frank Anderson reported that he had received several emails from a small number of residents in regard to a mosque construction ban. In order to give them an opportunity to voice their opinions, two local residents, Kay Strickland and Bill Duncan, were permitted to speak at a Bella Vista City Council work session. All six council members were present, along with an estimated fifty residents. At the meeting, Kay Strickland asked that the Council protect residents by banning the construction of mosques and enforcement of Sharia law. Strickland was joined by Bill Duncan, a veteran and member of an organization called Veterans Against Jihadism. Duncan referred to his travels abroad to support his claim that Sharia Law was not compatible with the US Constitution. Several attendees at the work session spoke out against the proposed ordinance. Stephen Sheppard, a US Supreme Court Bar member and Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Arkansas, warned the council that the ban would be unlawful. Also in opposition, Joel Gordon, the director of Middle East and Islamic Studies at the University of Arkansas, stated that the proposition ran “against the grain of our Constitution” and was “mind boggling” (Belloni, 2015, September 25). Mayor Anderson thanked the participants and council members made no comment on the matter. The Bella Vista City Council has not revisited the issue of Sharia Law or issued any ordinances on the matter since Duncan and Strickland’s contributions. References Belloni, G. (2010, September 25). Both sides present views on mosque - Bella Vista City Council hears from experts, residents. Benton County Daily Record (AR), p. 3. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/13E1BA6D1EC89D80">https://infoweb-newsbank-com</a>. Last Updated Date revised. August 1, 2021 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bella Vista City, AR Description An account of the resource In September 2010, two residents speak at a work session of the Bella Vista City Council to urge the Council to ban the construction of mosques and practice of Sharia Law in Bella Vista. The City Council takes no action on the issue. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Bryce Bentinck Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/6961146f56c047b7686209825bc742ad.jpg 0921f62955df742ad0c19d9a8eb27113 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://iccpaz.com/new-masjid-construction-phase-2/ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Arizona Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) AZ_01 Location The location of the interview Phoenix Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://iccpaz.com/">Islamic Cultural Center of Phoenix</a> Year Year the case began. 2010 Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Vandalism Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Phoenix, AZ Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010 Description An account of the resource A Phoenix, Arizona, mosque is vandalized while it is under construction. Paint was spilled on the floor and several tall, arched glass windows were broken by what appeared to be gunshots. Anti-muslim graffiti was found on the walls. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Crimes Against Property Mosque Under Construction https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/754c95cd6fdf4bdd83003e879d0d977a.jpg 4acc39a6203b3894f471ef7c10cb6a12 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.icbr.org/th_gallery/masjid-construction-6/ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Florida Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) FL_01 Location The location of the interview Boca Raton, FL Date 2003 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 3480 NW 5th Ave, Boca Raton, FL 33431 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Boca Raton, FL