A former day care center on South Avenue will become a house of worship for five families with Planning Board approvals granted Thursday.
Zahid Rashid, president of the Al Baseera International Institute, told the board he expects about ten people to meet there primarily on Fridays at noon, but also on weekends and some may visit daily. He expects the group to increase to no more than 52 members, as that would be the number allowable based on parking at the site.
Proposed renovations include a large prayer room in the front of the building, with two multipurpose rooms to the rear. There will be no office or secretary at the site at 1345-49 South Avenue, which is between the White Castle to the west and the remaining portion of the day care center to the east.
Rashid said other activities will include community services such as youth counseling and marriage counseling. The institute has no affiliation with a larger body, he said.
Board member Emmett Swan asked what engendered his interest in Plainfield and Rashid replied that he lived nearby and "happened to land in this beautiful city."
In a discussion of parking, which is based on seating in a house of worship, members asked Rashid whether he had chairs or pews for worshipers. Rashid said they would use the floor.
The transition would allow the building to become tax-exempt, which was a matter of concern to some board members, but Planning Director William Nierstedt said a house of worship is a permitted use in the zone. Nierstedt said he knew the board wanted all commercial uses there, but he said it was "not realistic."
The neighborhood is targeted for redevelopment and Nierstedt suggested perhaps some of the new residents might want to worship there. Councilman Cory Storch, the governing body's liaison to the board, said he thought the board had to approve the application, but he felt it "goes against the vision for the area."
"Schools and churches are going up all over," he said.
Storch predicted a change in property values once development takes place, but the house of worship would remain tax-exempt.
With all discussion concluded, the board gave unanimous approval to the application. Rashid will have to seek separate approval for signage on the building.
--Bernice
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Thanks Mr. Planning Director for caving and not understanding economic development. This is a commercial zone. Too many spaces across the city have been gobbled up by houses of worship. I don't mean disrespect to people's religious fervor but this building should be kept on the tax roles and kept intact for a suitable commercial use -- maybe a new restaurant to add to South Ave's Restaurant Row.
ReplyDeleteIf a house of worship is a permitted use, the Planning Director has to go by that until such time as a zoning change is passed.
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