Des Plaines Sued for Rejecting Plans for Mosque

Des Plaines is being sued over the city council's decision to deny plans for a mosque at 1645 Birchwood Avenue in August, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The American Islamic Center asserts in the lawsuit that its constitutional rights were violated when the city refused to change the industrial zoning of the property, the newspaper reported.

In opposing the project, city council members cited a myriad of reasons, including the loss of tax revenue: ""I met with them and they were very nice people," said 6th Ward Alderman Mark Walsten at the City Council meeting. "The issue in my view is whether we want to change the zoning of properties like this and lose the revenue."

The property previously was used by an insurance company for office space. The property generated about $95,000 in property tax revenue with 13 percent, or about $12,500 going to the city of Des Plaines.

Other concerns raised at the meeting included whether the center was the right fit for the property given the surrounding properties. Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman said he had heard from business owners worried about potential conflicts between semi truck traffic and church traffic.