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Lakeville residents debate mosque conditional-use permit as council hears wide-ranging public comment
Summary
At the Nov. 17 Lakeville City Council meeting, residents voiced both support and concerns about a proposed conditional-use permit for a mosque; issues raised included occupancy and building egress, nighttime noise and broadcasting, and whether findings of fact adequately reflect neighbor concerns.
Dozens of residents addressed the Lakeville City Council on Nov. 17 about a conditional-use permit (CUP) tied to a proposed mosque, with speakers offering both support and objections focused on safety, noise and notice.
Supporters, including children and local congregants, urged the council to approve the permit so that local Muslim families have a nearby place to worship and participate in community programs. "Please give our mosque the permit as it is where I learn, play, and worship," said 9-year-old Nuara Nesro. Imam Hassan Grama, who identified himself as living a few blocks from the site, asked the council to "approve and respect" the neighbors and their right to practice religion.
Opponents and nearby property owners raised practical concerns about occupancy, building safety and neighborhood compatibility. Bob Erickson, a longtime Lakeville resident and former school board member, asked the council to confirm that code and building-official review has addressed exiting issues in the lower level and to clarify findings of fact regarding outdoor prayer requests and public expression. Audrey Aronson Johnson, an apartment owner near the proposed site, told the council she was concerned the change of use "will substantially increase traffic in the parking lot" at times before and after sunset, that headlights and car-door noise could disturb tenants, and that the city should explicitly condition any permit on "no broadcast or other sound amplification outside of the building." She asked the council to consider restricting hours of operation to protect residential compatibility.
City staff and the applicant have represented that the applicant does not intend to broadcast calls to prayer outside the building; that assurance was repeated by several commenters in favor of the project. Proponents said multiple Twin Cities mosques do not broadcast outside and that the applicant has stated the same intent for this site.
The record at the Nov. 17 meeting consisted of public comment; the council did not take a final vote on the CUP at this meeting. Council members signaled interest in ensuring building-code and occupancy questions are resolved and in clarifying permit conditions that address noise, broadcasting and hours if the matter moves forward.
Next steps: the item remains on the council’s agenda track; any formal staff findings, conditions, or future council action were not decided at the Nov. 17 meeting.
