Brookhaven Town officials have approved a new Muslim cemetery in Bellport, clearing the way for what supporters say will help address a growing need for faith-centered burial space on Long Island.
The Brookhaven Town Board, acting as the town planning board, voted unanimously to approve the Beaverdam Islamic Cemetery Inc. project on 13.5 acres along Beaver Dam Road. The Suffolk County Legislature also unanimously approved the project earlier this week.
Attorney John Scott Prudenti, representing the nonprofit organization behind the project, called the approval “an exciting time” for his clients.
“They have been attempting to form a faith-centered cemetery for their loved ones because there are none in New York State,” Prudenti said.
The cemetery, which is not affiliated with a separate proposed Muslim cemetery project in East Moriches, is expected to include more than 10,000 burial sites when fully occupied. Prudenti noted that despite that number, “as cemeteries go, it would not be considered a large facility.”
The project still faces final engineering and permit work before construction can begin. Prudenti said the nonprofit has been working closely with Brookhaven Town officials and agreed to increase the size of the property’s natural buffer areas in response to concerns raised by nearby residents.
“The town asked us to increase our buffer size by approximately 32 percent, and we agreed in attempting to be a good neighbor,” he said. “We want to maintain everybody’s privacy and the natural landscape.”
Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico previously said the enlarged buffer areas would remain naturally vegetated.
Prudenti said organizers also intend to hire locally from the North Bellport community as the project moves forward.
“This will create some nice opportunities, and this will be a locally run and staffed nonprofit organization,” he said.
The organization also completed a traffic study and plans to coordinate funeral activities with the surrounding community to minimize congestion and avoid conflicts with school activities and local traffic patterns.
“We are looking to blend into the community,” Prudenti added.