Islamic Center expansion clears key procedural steps as neighbors press concerns over parking, noise and occupancy

The Clifton Planning Board on Oct. 14 heard testimony and public comment on an application by the Islamic Center of Passaic County to replace and expand its facility at 257–259 Pershing Road. Ibrahim Fahmy, president of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, and the applicant’s attorney, Mr. McGowan, described a larger building and more on‑site parking intended to bring existing outdoor activity indoors and reduce on‑street impacts.

Board and applicant testimony described why the mosque says a larger building would serve the current congregation rather than meaningfully grow it. “The goal here is that our expansion is going to bring all of our activities inside,” Ibrahim Fahmy said, adding, “That is the absolute goal.” Fahmy said the project would add parking — the application plan shows about 230 spaces versus the current 88 — and new program spaces including two prayer rooms, a multipurpose area and a gym so children can play indoors during busy periods such as Ramadan.

The application’s supporters and the applicant argued the proposed changes are intended to reduce outdoor overflow and loudspeaker use. Fahmy testified that tents and outside loudspeakers used during Ramadan were not ideal and that the new design is meant to eliminate those practices: “We want everything to be inside, and we have no intention and no interest in putting outside speakers at all,” he said.

Why it matters: neighbors and the board focused on whether the plan as submitted provides enough detail for the board to reach a decision and whether it will actually reduce neighborhood impacts. Key sticking points included parking geometry and aisle widths, the method for calculating required parking, environmental/landscaping specifics tied to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and how occupancy will be monitored and enforced.

Most immediate facts and procedural posture - The applicant described the proposed building as including roughly 11,603 square feet of combined worship area within a larger building footprint the public cited as about 43,162 square feet; the current site now has 88 parking spaces and the plan before the board shows about 230 spaces. - The applicant presented a proposal that, if granted as submitted, requests variances for certain parking stall/aisle dimensions; the applicant’s team said an alternative fully compliant layout could provide about 218 spaces but would reduce building footprint or circulation and eliminate a neighborhood playground. - The applicant waived time‑limit requirements for the board’s decision through at least the board’s next regular hearing, scheduled for Oct. 23; the continuance/waiver was confirmed on the record.

Technical and regulatory questions raised - Parking math and aisle widths: Board members and staff noted the application includes parking stalls sized at about 9 by 18 feet with at least one aisle at roughly 20 feet instead of the 24 feet the board’s standards prefer. The applicant’s team said the 9×18/20‑foot configuration yields 230 spaces, while a full compliance layout (9×19 stalls and 24‑foot aisles) would yield about 218 spaces; the ordinance’s conditional‑use standard discussed during the hearing uses a ratio of one parking space per four worship seats. - Occupancy and fire code: The applicant cited a prayer‑space capacity (based on prayer mat/layout assumptions) of about 837 people for the new prayer rooms. Fire department documents presented in public comment showed the existing facility’s “maximum permitted occupancy” as 485 for the main prayer area and 316 for the multipurpose room (total 801) per Clifton Fire Department forms; the board noted occupancy figures for accessory spaces must be finalized with the fire marshal during the building/CO process. - Environmental/landscaping compliance: Commissioner Benaso pressed the applicant for a revised landscaping plan showing species, caliper, and which trees qualify for replacement under the municipality’s tree‑replacement rules. Benaso said a lawyer’s letter that described “one‑for‑one” tree replacement was not adequate without a revised drawing showing species and exact replacement locations; the commissioner asked the applicant to supply revised plans so the board could determine whether the EIS and ordinance requirements were met. - Noise, Ramadan and outdoor overflow: The applicant described frequent programming (the mosque said it offers the five daily prayers seven days a week and multiple programs nightly) and said Friday midday prayers and late‑night Ramadan activities are the peak demand times. Fahmy said the new design includes separation between solemn prayer rooms and multipurpose areas and that routine programming would be moved indoors.

Public testimony and concerns Residents from the nearby Richfield neighborhood, and other town residents who said they use nearby streets, raised concerns about traffic flow, blocking of driveways, nighttime lighting, pedestrian safety (several speakers noted sections of Pershing Road lack sidewalks), and whether added parking and new exits would reduce or simply concentrate traffic at different intersections. Several public speakers asked for stronger, enforceable commitments on monitoring occupancy, more detail on hours and event controls, and routine coordination with Clifton police to manage street parking and traffic.

Procedural items and next steps - The board took public comment and then continued the hearing; the applicant confirmed a waiver of the board’s decision time limits to allow the board to continue the hearing at its Oct. 23 meeting. The applicant’s planner, traffic expert and additional witnesses are expected to appear at that continued hearing. - The board and applicant discussed a site visit with board representatives and applicant professionals to inspect the property and address circulation and tree/landscaping questions before the next hearing.

Discussion only vs. direction vs. formal action - Discussion only: detailed testimony from the applicant and public comment about operations, Ramadan programming, tents, noise, and traffic. Board members requested additional documents (revised landscaping/landscape plan, circulation studies and clearer EIS items) to assess compliance. - Direction/assignment: the board requested the applicant provide revised landscaping plans showing species, caliper and replacement trees; the board secretary was asked to coordinate a site visit with applicant representatives, staff and the board. - Formal action: no final land‑use approval was taken; the applicant executed an on‑record waiver of decision time limits to continue the hearing to Oct. 23.

What the record does not show The board did not vote to approve the application at this hearing, and it did not adopt any new binding conditions beyond the procedural waiver and the informal agreement to supply additional information. The hearing record does not show a final finding on the EIS compliance, nor a final determination about whether compact‑space designations or modified aisle widths will be accepted; those remain to be decided by the board at a later date.

Ending The applicant’s team, led by Ibrahim Fahmy and Mr. McGowan, will return with additional technical witnesses and revised plans for the Oct. 23 continuation. Neighbors asked the board to press for explicit, enforceable conditions on monitoring occupancy, lighting, and traffic control; the board requested the applicant submit the revised plans and indicated it may schedule a site visit and/or a special meeting to avoid a long gap between hearings.