A new mosque on William Floyd Parkway in Shirley won unanimous approval from the Brookhaven Town Board after dozens of supporters spoke in its favor. Only two neighbors expressed concerns over the Muslim facility despite a robust Social Media debate in which some residents railed against the 13,500-square-foot structure.
“We are glad the process is complete,” said Imaam Abdul-Lateef Poulos of Mastic, who started on the project 20 years ago. He thanked Supervisor Dan Panico and the town board, which was acting in the capacity of the former planning board in approving the site plan, for their unwavering support.
The supervisor noted that the house of worship is permitted on the two-acre residentially zoned property under the town code and expressed regret over some Facebook comments that cast aspersions on the Muslim faith. “Brookhaven is a welcoming place that doesn’t accept hatred or bigotry,” Panico stated before the 7-0 vote. “Mastic-Shirley is a community of people who accept others who are not like them.”
The Mosque, on the corner of Tudor Road, is envisioned as a community center with a basketball court open to the public. “We want this to be a place where everyone can come and be together as a community,” said supporter Ghulam Sarwar. “This will be an asset not just for now but also for generations to come.”
Nearby resident Clara Scocozzo addressed the town board, stating: “I am here today not because l am opposed to one’s religious freedoms but because the size of the land purchased does not accommodate the applicant’s needs. Beyond the concerns of adding over 150-plus cars to already congested roads such as William Floyd Parkway, Heston Road, and Tudor Road, which are at their breaking point, I worry about the hazards these additional cars will pose to walkers, joggers, bikers, and children in the area.”
Speaker Nancy Slane echoed Scocozzo’s concerns. “There is not enough parking for this,” she said, noting that the traffic on the parkway is already “horrendous.” According to the Heston Road resident, it sometimes takes 20-25 minutes to reach Sunrise Highway, a situation that’s even worse when the Long Island Rail Road crossing gates are down.
Traffic engineer Osman Barrie of Nelson+Pope detailed the conclusions of a traffic study, which found that the mosque would cause a minimal increase in traffic since the Islaamic Center of Mastic-Shirley already holds prayers across the street, and many of those who would go there already live in the community. “Local use is not expected to generate additional traffic,” Barrie said.
Designer Tahir Qureshi testified that 124 parking spaces, more than the 87 required under the town code, will provide “ample” parking for the facility.
“I am upset that more residents did not attend the meeting, especially the ones who are affected by the rear yard setback change to now the side yard. That's all I have to say—extremely disappointed,” Scocozzo concluded.