Politics & Government

Proposed Mosque Does Not Garner Des Plaines City Council Support

The Des Plaines City Council was not supportive of a plan by the American Islamic Center to rezone and move to 1645 Birchwood Avenue.

"I met with them and they were very nice people," said 6th Ward Alderman Mark Walsten at Monday's 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 was located in an industrial area. It previous 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.

Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman raised concerns about traffic and how the center would fit in with the surrounding businesses. Brookman said he had heard from businesses owners, worried about conflicts between semi-truck traffic and church traffic.

The property includes two concrete, one-story buildings with 118 parking spaces. The property currently is vacant. The plan was to renovate the interior of the building to include prayer, classroom, performing arts, offices and eating areas.

A representative of the petitioner said the center basically would be a Bosnian cultural center, serving the Bosnian community. The organizer said the Bosnian community was very appreciative of America's efforts to stop the Bosnian war and grateful the country had opened itself to refugees from the war.

Third Ward Alderman Denise Rodd said she was supportive of the proposal. She said Des Plaines had an opportunity to continue moving forward and embracing diversity and she felt the benefits of the center to the community would outweigh and of the challenges posed by rezoning the property.

However, a majority of the council sided with Brookman and Walsten and did not support a motion by Rodd to approve the rezoning.

"The question is whether this is the appropriate location for this establishment," Walsten said. "It's not about the use or the people."


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