County Council rejects Religious Assembly Application

From The Rocky View Weekly and Alliance Defense Fund:

County council rejects religious assembly application


Nov 30, 2010 06:00 am
By Dawn Smith
Rocky View Weekly

Rocky View County council unanimously rejected an application to rezone a country-residential lot in Park Lane to allow religious assembly in an existing home, Nov. 23.



The proposal would have allowed members of the Al-Madinah Calgary Islamic Association to meet in the home of their imam, Syed Soharwardi, for Friday afternoon prayer services.



“I didn’t come up with any pros,” said Councillor Lois Habberfield.



“This institution doesn’t serve the community, it serves Calgary residents. I think there are a lot of institutions and office spaces that could be used there.”



Soharwardi’s home is serviced with a water well and a private sewage treatment system.



The applicants initially proposed a variety of services from the property, including a mosque for daily prayers, a library, daily religious classes, family counselling, community and social events. However, the proposal was scaled back due to neighbouring residents’ opposition to include prayer services for about 100 people and a residence for Soharwardi.



Over the past year, residents have filed complaints that the home was being used to hold meetings and parking spilled over from the property onto Park Lane.



The County received 19 letters in opposition, and several residents spoke out at the meeting, citing parking, traffic, water and the inappropriateness of the institution in their community.



“We are all in opposition, because it isn’t in keeping with the residential area,” said area resident Ed Dyck.



“(The facility) will have a significant negative impact on us.”



Neighbour Joe Genovy agreed.



“I am not a religious person whatsoever, which is why I decided to build my house here,” he said.



“These people should start up with a larger property that isn’t located in an already existing residential area.”



Soharwardi said there would be 35 to 45 people present for prayers most Fridays, and they would not be in the area for long.



He pleaded his case, but was unsuccessful. “Our congregation is very educated people,” he said. “So I hope council can see that we aren’t going to have an uncontrolled, unmanaged situation.”