https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/da658e3ff2756938cfbc856e4635b6dc.jpg d0594a7f55ffda37a879d3a685fd772a 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/. Description An account of the resource Rivard, N. (2012). A model of the proposed Al Madany Islamic Center mosque that would be located at 127 Fillow St. [Online image]. Retrieved October 7, 2019 from https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Proposed-mosque-in-Norwalk-draws-controversy-3462899.php#photo-2783990. 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 Connecticut 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. CT_02 Location The location of the interview Norwalk, CT Date April 2012 - September 2014 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. A Muslim community in Norwalk, Connecticut planned to build a 27,000 square foot mosque in a residential area of Norwalk (Rivard, 2012). The City of Norwalk held a hearing so Norwalk citizens could voice their opinion on the project as many were worried about increased traffic and disruption in a small neighborhood (Rivard, 2012). The Zoning Commission denied Al-Madany’s application and Al-Madany filed suit on religious discrimination charges. For two years, the case stayed on the docket and because it dealt with arguments of religious discrimination, the Department of Justice chose to step in and investigate the situation as well. As a result of increasing pressure to prevent Norwalk from spending millions on hearing the case as well as input from the DOJ, the two sides finally reached a settlement (Koch, 2012). However, citizens at the next public hearing were still concerned regarding the traffic on the two-lane road. The Common Council ultimately came up with a new settlement in which Al-Madany was paid roughly $1.3 million for dropping their charges and finding a new location for the mosque (Goetz, 2014; Greenwich Free Press, 2014). Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 127 Fillow St, Norwalk, CT 06850 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 4H96+59 Norwalk, Connecticut Proposed Project The plan was set for a facility of roughly 27,000 square feet, including a mosque, a school, a place for daily prayer and parking for up to 89 cars. It was estimated that during prayer times, around 1,000 members could potentially be at the mosque (Goetz, 2014; Rivard 2012). Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://almadany.org/">Al-Madany Islamic Center</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign; Local Ordinance Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The project was delayed and the final proposed settlement that the commission approved required the City of Norwalk to pay close to $2 million. Norwalk’s insurer paid Al-Madany $300,000, while the City itself paid Al-Madany about $1 million (Goetz, 2014). The City also spent over half a million dollars to buy the disputed plot of land on Fillow Street and to pay Al-Madany for development expenses, once it found another mosque location (Goetz, 2014). Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Background on the Case Since the 1970s, the City of Norwalk’s Islamic community has grown larger and larger, to about 100 families in 2012. Muslim members of the community in Norwalk did not have a mosque, so they would worship in one of the congregant’s basement (Rivard, 2012). But by 2012, their community had grown so large that it was necessary that the members find a permanent, spacious location for their worship. They drew up plans to build a 27,000 square foot construction with a mosque, meeting hall, school, and parking lot with 89 spots. They settled on a location in a more residential area of Norwalk, where a little red farmhouse took up a plot of land on 127 Fillow Street (Rivard, 2012). The Muslim Community sent its application in to the Norwalk Zoning Commission in June 2012. The Commission denied the permit after a public hearing in which many Norwalk citizens declared their fervent disagreement with having the mosque in such a residential location (Koch, 2016; Rivard, 2012). The Muslim community then sued the Commission on discrimination charges and violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Key Events April 4, 2012: The City of Norwalk held a public hearing so that community members could air their grievances about the proposed mosque. Most of the neighbors were concerned about traffic, as the road the mosque would be located on is a two lane road. Additionally, the neighbors argued, the traffic would be putting school children at risk near the street. Muslims pray five times per day, so presumably, there would be a higher influx of cars throughout the day, potentially putting pedestrians in danger (Koch, 2012). June 2012: The Zoning Commission denied the Islamic community a permit to build their mosque, and the community filed suit on religious discrimination charges. The Zoning Commission asserted their decision was not religiously motivated (Koch, 2012). December 2012: The City of Norwalk acknowledged that the U.S. Department of Justice was investigating the case (Koch, 2012). January 2013-July 2014: The case continued to stay on the docket, with both sides hiring more lawyers and preparing their case. There was increasing pressure to settle because hearing the case would cost the City of Norwalk millions. August 2014: The City of Norwalk and Al-Madany agreed on a proposal, pending approval by the Zoning Commission and Common Council, for a scaled-down mosque that was 22,000 square feet, with 135 parking spaces. The City of Norwalk and its insurer agreed to pay $300,000 to the congregation (CBS Local, 2014). September 4, 2014: At another public hearing in Norwalk with the community and the Zoning Commission and a Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act expert, many citizens still disagreed with the proposal, mostly because of traffic thought to be dangerous and disruptive in a residential neighborhood. Al-Madany had compromised at this point, saying that they would reduce the building mass by 11% by eliminating two floors. They also agreed to cut back the width by 4 feet (CBS Local, 2014). In order to combat the traffic argument, they agreed to hire a police officer to direct traffic during their days of celebration. After the public hearing, the Commission voted in favor of the settlement 4-3. It was the Common Council’s responsibility subsequently to negotiate the monetary terms (Greenwich Free Press, 2014). September 9, 2014: After hearing the complaints of the people at the Town Hall, the Common Council, even though the mosque location and design had been approved by the Zoning Commission, ultimately decided in a 14-0 decision that they would not allow Al-Madany to build on the Fillow Street property. The Islamic Center was paid reparations totaling roughly $1.3 million and the City helped them find a new location (CBS Local, 2014; Goetz, 2014). 2015: Al-Madany bought a plot of land in 2015 that had formerly belonged to the Christ Episcopal Church, who were very welcoming to the Islamic community when they said they wanted to buy the church (Chapman, 2015). The community still worships there today. It has been about 4 years since they moved in. Outcome & Lasting Effects The U.S. Department of Justice has “recommended” that the City of Norwalk and Zoning Committee reopen inquiries into the Zoning Regulations and initiate a Zoning reform to simplify the process for obtaining a special permit by updating criteria. In reality, Norwalk must take these “recommended” actions in order to avoid formal investigation by the DOJ (Koch, 2014). This push for a structural change in Zoning Regulations seems to be a debate that will continue for a number of years and will require multiple public hearings in the future (Koch, 2016a). References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. Local <ul><li>Al-Madany (2018). Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://almadany.org/.</li> <li>CBS Local. (2014, September 9). Norwalk Common Council To Consider Mosque Plan Tuesday. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/09/09/norwalk-common-council-to-consider-mosque-plan-tuesday/.</li> <li>Chapman, N. (2015, November 12). Al Madany plans to make Union Park church into a mosque. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://www.nancyonnorwalk.com/2015/11/al-madany-plans-to-make-union-park-church-into-a-mosque/.</li> <li>Koch, R. (2012, December 11). Norwalk officials acknowledge Department of Justice is reviewing mosque denial. The Hour. Retrieved from https://www.thehour.com/norwalk/article/Norwalk-officials-acknowledge-Department-of-8229754.php.</li> <li>Koch, R. (2014, September 27). In wake of mosque battle, Norwalk to explore tougher rules for residential zones. The Hour. Retrieved from https://www.thehour.com/norwalk/article/In-wake-of-mosque-battle-Norwalk-to-explore-8097523.php.</li> <li>Koch, R (2016a, June 11). After mosque battle, city considers changing zoning regulations addressing special permits and places of worship. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://www.thehour.com/norwalk/article/After-mosque-battle-city-considers-changing-8045732.php.</li> <li>Koch, R. (2016b, June 13). U.S. District Court approves Al Madany settlement. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://www.thehour.com/norwalk/article/U-S-District-Court-approves-Al-Madany-settlement-8098561.php.</li> <li>(2014, September 5). Norwalk to Get a Mosque: Zoning Commission Votes 4 to 3 in Favor after Charged Public Hearing. Greenwich Free Press. Retrieved from https://greenwichfreepress.com/news/government/norwalk-to-get-a-mosque-zoning-commission-votes-4-to-3-in-favor-after-charged-public-hearing-22297/.</li> </ul>Regional <ul><li>Goetz, K. (2014, September 24). Norwalk settles mosque dispute with more than $2M payout. Retrieved from https://www.wshu.org/post/norwalk-settles-mosque-dispute-more-2m-payout#stream/0.</li> <li>Merriam, D., Seeman, E. (2014, September 18). City, Islamic Group Near Settlement in Mosque Suit; Proposed deal would curtail legal fees, end religious land use case. Retrieved October 3, 2019, from https://www.rluipa-defense.com/2014/09/city-islamic-group-near-settlement-in-mosque-suit-proposed-deal-would-curtail-legal-fees-end-religious-land-use-case.</li> <li>Rivard, N. (2012, April 6). Proposed mosque in Norwalk draws controversy. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Proposed-mosque-in-Norwalk-draws-controversy-3462899.php.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. October 12, 2019 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 Norwalk, CT Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. CT_02, occurring in Norwalk, CT, from June 2012 to September 2014 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ellen Harnisch DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA)