The recently proposed mosque on Mt. Sinai-Coram Road in Mt. Sinai has brought up many questions within the community.
Monday's planning board meeting was packed with residents voicing concerns about traffic, safety and other issues that would result. Another discussion will take place at the next planning board meeting on Feb 11.
Readers have taken to Patch and our Facebook pages to voice differing view points on the matter. Here is what some had to say:
Peter C. Walsh
"I can sympathize with the concern for the loss of quiet use and enjoyment. When you buy a home with a view of a barn you expect an occasional moo or baa, not fifty cars full of families pulling into a large parking lot. The fact that it is a Mosque clouds the issue. If it were a Catholic Church the surrounding homeonwers will still lose the quiet use and enjoyment of their respective properties."
pam
"Where do you suggest houses of worship be situated if not in residential areas where people live in the suburbs? Religious institutions serve communities best when they are accessible. In the suburbs it is arguably more important to allow houses of worship where people live. The only reasons this site should be rejected is if it will have a significant negative impact on traffic and the safety of residents and worshippers."
Mt. Sinai dad
"This is very sad. There should not be any places of worship in residential areas of Mt. Sinai. I also live right on this road and the amount of traffic this will generate is only going to make the current traffic and safety issues worse."
"Concerns? Please! if it was a Christian Church it would be open arms"
"I REALLY hope the community is going to support freedom of religion."
"This country is about freedom of religion. You have a right to disagree/agree that us your right too."
Have something to say on the matter? Add your comment below.
"Concerns? Please! if it was a Christian Church it would be open arms"" Yeah, just why do the Muslims have such bad PR? After all, when the Lutherans chop off the heads of those they disagree with, and fly planes into buildings, and, oh, wait a minute...
However, a house of worship, adjacent (right?) to a golf course that has beverage carts serving beer is not allowed I think.