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.