Rolling Meadows mosque relocation has one last chance at approval

The Rolling Meadows mosque that wants to relocate to a larger site just around the corner from the space it's called home for the past 30 years will face an uphill battle when the city council takes a final vote later this month.

The Islamic Society of the Northwest Suburbs, 3850 Industrial Drive, wants to move to an adjacent property at 1200 Hicks Road but has run into zoning issues. Both the current and proposed site of the mosque sit in a manufacturing district, where places of worship are not allowed.

In 2004, the Rolling Meadows council passed an ordinance to keep nonmanufacturing uses, such as religious organizations, out of the M-1 district. Therefore, to move to the 8-acre Hicks Road site, the Islamic Society needs the council to pass a zoning code amendment.

However, the council has been largely silent on the issue.

In November, supporters of the mosque came before aldermen to explain their plans for the 47,500-square-foot building and get their initial thoughts.

Only Mayor Tom Rooney and Alderman Rob Banger spoke up, both in support, while other council members sat silent.

In March, the Islamic Society's plan was back in front of the council for a vote, again with a packed room of supporters that included leaders of local churches and synagogues, who said the mosque is important part of the suburban interfaith community.

But two votes on the mosque's zoning failed 2-3. Aldermen Brad Judd, Tim Veenbas and Laura Majikes voted “no” in one, and Judd, Veenbas and John D'Astice voted “no” in the other.

None of them explained why. Asked about it later, however, Veenbas and D'Astice said some residents of their wards told them they prefer the area remain manufacturing.

However, Aldermen Mike Cannon and Len Prejna were absent from that meeting, so members of the council asked that the matter to be reconsidered when the full council is in session later this month.

Rooney said he is disappointed with how the matter has been handled so far by the council.

“It doesn't look right for us to be silent on this issue,” he said.

Although Rooney supports the mosque's relocation, he votes only when there is a need for a tiebreaker.

In October, the city council approved a dance studio in the M-1 district, so an amendment to the zoning would not be unprecedented.

While the mosque's proposed move has struggled to win over of the city council, it has received wide-ranging support from the local religious community.

Taron Tachman, rabbi at Beth Tikvah Congregation in Schaumburg, spoke of the strong friendship between his congregation and the members of the mosque.

“We've discovered through interfaith dialogue that we share many of the same core values and the same desires to advance justice, peace and dignity for all humans,” Tachman said.

“We've also discovered our local Muslim friends are friendly, kind, hardworking, decent people who love this country and what it stands for.”

The Rev. Brian Simpson of St. Colette Parish in Rolling Meadows, a former naval officer who did a tour of Iraq, spoke in favor of the mosque as well.

“These are our friends. These are our neighbors,” Simpson said.

“There can be no freedom of speech without the freedom to believe, profess and live religious values. There can be no freedom to assembly if people are not free to worship.”

Kashif Javid, a sophomore at Fremd High School, called the mosque a “home away from home” and praised the blood drives, volunteer projects, interfaith programs and health clinics that take place there in addition to religious education.

“This mosque will be a beacon of knowledge in a sea of ignorance for the next generation,” he said.

A final vote over the mosque's relocation is expected to be taken at the city council meeting at 7:30 p.m. April 26.