Hearing continued on North Seventeenth Street place-of-worship application after board asks applicant to document parking access

The Zoning Hearing Board on Oct. 20 continued an application from Mohidin Hadeem, Inc. to establish a place of worship at 1100 North Seventeenth Street to the board’s November meeting, after board members and neighbors flagged questions about whether the applicant controls or has a lease for two off-site parking lots the application counted as accessory parking.

Applicant representative Abdul Jaleel Larry said the congregation plans regular prayer services (multiple brief daily prayers and a larger Friday midday service) and weekend educational classes roughly 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The applicant had removed several temporary painted lines on a nearby lot and described plans to address landscaping and other site improvements.

Planning Director Jeffrey Knight told the board that two nearby lots — 1616 Hurst Street and 1625 Cumberland Street — together contain about 20 parking spaces and that those lots appeared to be owned by the same owner as the subject property in county records. Knight and board members said the board needs explicit documentation that those lots will be available for the applicant’s use — either by deed or a lease — before granting a special exception that relies on those spaces to meet parking requirements.

The applicant said he believed the parking and other access would be available but did not present a signed lease or deed transferring those lots. The board voted to continue the matter to its November meeting and directed the applicant to provide documentation showing ownership or a lease for the accessory parking lots and to be prepared to address landscaping and signage details. The applicant was given guidance on the documentation needed for the next hearing.