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Rolling Meadows denies mosque move

In front of a room filled with supporters, including some wearing hats and holding signs, the Rolling Meadows City Council on Tuesday rejected a zoning change that would have allowed a mosque that has been in town for 30 years to relocate to a larger location nearby.

The Islamic Society of the Northwest Suburbs, 3850 Industrial Drive, wanted to move to an adjacent property at 1200 Hicks Road, but ran into zoning issues. Both the current and proposed site of the mosque sit in a manufacturing district, where places of worship are no longer allowed under city code.

A proposal to change city code to allow places of worship in the manufacturing district in the future failed by a 4-3 vote Tuesday night.

"I wish it had passed," said Mayor Tom Rooney, who spoke several times in favor of the mosque though his vote would only count in case of a tie. "I hope they can resolve their space issues without having to leave Rolling Meadows."

Most aldermen voting against the zoning change remained silent on their reasons why. Only Alderman Tim Veenbaas spoke against the proposal on Tuesday and said he was voting against because he wanted the area to remain a manufacturing district.

"We are obviously disappointed," said Islamic Society board member Abdul Javid after the vote.

Javid said the mosque will remain in its location on Industrial Drive while officials contemplate their next move. He said the board will meet Wednesday to discuss what happens next. Attorney Harold Francke said nothing - including legal action or looking at other locations in or outside of Rolling Meadows - is off the table.

At every meeting where the mosque has come up over the past few months, including Tuesday, the crowd has been full of supporters from the congregation, the community and interfaith leaders from around the suburbs.

Resident Beth Marcin attended the meeting with a sign taped to her hat asking the council members to vote yes while her friends held up signs on paper plates in support.

"They've been a very good neighbor in our community and I just hope they will be able to stay," Marcin said.

Members gathered after the meeting said they were upset with the vote and wished the council had given their reasons for voting against the proposal rather than just denying it.

"I'm shocked," said Islamic Society member Adnan Khan. "I thought our turnout would show them that the ISNS community is strong and that we care about Rolling Meadows."

  The Rolling Meadows City Council decided not to rezone this property at 1200 Hicks Road to allow the Islamic Society of the Northwest Suburbs to relocate there. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Islamic Society of the Northwest Suburbs members get together at sunset to break their fasts and pray. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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