Judge puts Carmel mosque plans on hold until May
The Al Salam Foundation‘s plans to build a mosque in Carmel are on hold after a Hamilton County judge received a petition organized by five Carmel residents and their attorney.
The residents are named in the court document but their attorney, Michael Andreoli, said neither they nor his office have any comment on the matter.
The petition circulating on Hamilton County social media has more than 2,000 signatures against the use of residentially zoned land for the Islamic mosque.
The proposed mosque on Feb. 26 received approval from the Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals after a lengthy public hearing including nearly 200 public comments. Those in favor of the Islamic Life Center explained the area’s need for a Muslim place of worship and the benefits of diversifying the city’s amenities. Those against the proposal said the area was zoned for residential developments only and nearby roads can’t handle the increased traffic that comes with a place of worship.
On Wednesday, Hamilton Superior Court 1 Judge Steven R. Nation set a hearing for 8:30 a.m. May 25 for a judicial review of the Board of Zoning Appeals’ decision.
The Al Salam Foundation Board of Trustees released a statement following the judge’s decision that reads:
“Dear Brothers and Sisters, AsSalam Alaykum,
“We are informing you with this message that the neighbors of Al Salam 141st street property have filed a petition in the Hamilton County Superior Court for a judicial review of the Feb 26th, 2018 decision of the Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) that approved the Islamic Life Center (ILC) special use application. This is not a surprise nor an unexpected development. This has been a possible outcome following the BZA decision.
“Though Al Salam Foundation is not a party to the petition, however we are taking legal counsel on this matter for any action that might be necessary from our end. We will keep the community updated as the matter progresses in the Court.
“May Allah guide us through this process!”
Neighbors in the area continued to have mixed opinions Monday.
“Some people have strong opinions about it,” said Danielle Paolucci, who lives just east of the proposed site. “I don’t have a problem with it going in. I just think the lot might be a little small. That’s my only concern. And the traffic.”
The proposed lot is on the northwest corner of 146th Street and Shelbourne Road. Both 146th and Shelbourne are two-lane roads at that intersection.
“I would say the same thing if they wanted to put a Catholic church or a Baptist church,” said Brenda Gwaltney, who lives near the site. “It’s a very trafficky area with little streets. Not four lanes, two lanes. Little, narrow two lanes.”
Gawltney said she can see a need for a mosque in Carmel and appreciates the diversity of her neighborhood. She said it’s in the best interest of the city and the foundation to use the court delay to pick another location.
“There’s more people moving into this area, and I think they would be better off finding a big, open, … not-so-congested area,” she said.
Taylor Orf also lives nearby and said he’s neutral on the issue.
“I understand, especially in the neighborhood next door, a big, giant structure could probably bring down property value, especially if you’re building a $600,000-800,000 home across the street,” he said.
Orf also said that Carmel has approved three new large churches in the area in the last 10 years, namely the Saint Mary and Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Indianapolis Temple, and the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Indianapolis.
“There’s the giant Church of Latter-day Saints, and I can’t imagine this is going to be any bigger than that. Then you’ve got the Greek Orthodox that’s south of here. So, it’s a diverse community,” Orf said. “I don’t see how the city can say you can have one but you can’t have the other.”
As of Monday, the petition to Oppose the Use of Residential Land for Islamic Life Center had 2,113 signatures, and the petition in Support for the Islamic Life Center at 141st and Shelborne Road has 2,969 signatures.