Shafaqna English- The McKinney City Council in the US state of Texas approved a plan for a new mosque.
Before the council’s Tuesday night vote, about 150 people spoke—a mix of supporters and opponents of the mosque plan—during a long and sometimes rowdy meeting that overflowed city hall.
Councilman Patrick Cloutier had previously stated that members would approve the plan, explaining during a July 21 meeting that council members’ “ministerial” duty under city law is to allow property developments that meet established zoning requirements.
City administrators also spoke Tuesday night, explaining their process for reviewing and approving the submitted mosque plans.
No rezone or design exceptions were requested for the current mosque plan, so no notice to nearby property owners was required. However, the property’s older “planned development” zoning designation still required votes of approval from P&Z and council.
The McKinney Islamic Association proposed building a mosque and related facilities on 5.5 acres at the corner of Virginia Parkway and Crutcher Crossing. MIA bought the property in 2022 for the purpose of expanding beyond its current masjid on Eldorado Parkway, which the group has outgrown.
Approved plans include a 15,000-square-foot mosque, a 10,000-square-foot classroom building, and a 7,000-square-foot gym.
A site plan submitted in 2024 for a 40,000 square foot mosque required a rezoning of the property, which city planners rejected.
Sources: IQNA