Broken Arrow schedules Jan. 12 council hearing on rezoning request for Islamic center

Broken Arrow City Council will take up a rezoning request and a conditional‑use permit for an applicant proposing an Islamic center in the South Bridal Arrow neighborhood at a special meeting on Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. at Northeastern State University’s Administrative Services Building auditorium, Mayor Deborah Wimping said in a public announcement.

City Manager Michael Spurgeon said the application "is being treated just like the hundreds of other formal proposals submitted to the city each year" and emphasized, "It is important to note this development has not been approved." Spurgeon also noted that the city's Planning Commission voted last month to recommend a change in zoning and the issuance of a conditional‑use permit; the recommendation now goes to the City Council for consideration and a decision.

The meeting is expected to draw a large crowd. Aaron McCullough, the city's communications director, outlined logistics and public‑participation rules designed to manage attendance: doors will open at 5 p.m.; there will be a single public entrance (southwest side of the Administrative Services Building); attendees will pass through a metal detector; bags and large containers will not be allowed; and belongings are subject to search. McCullough said, "NSU is on state property, therefore firearms are prohibited on its campus and in its buildings."

To streamline public comment, the city will use color‑coded opinion forms. McCullough said the yellow form is for those who support the proposal and the green form is for those who oppose it. Anyone who wishes to speak must complete the appropriate opinion form with their full name, city and state and turn it in to city staff by 5:50 p.m.; forms with the "no" box checked (indicating the person does not wish to speak) will continue to be accepted after 5:50 p.m. Seating in the auditorium is limited; once capacity is reached attendees will be directed to an upstairs banquet hall where the meeting will be shown via a live stream on the city's YouTube channel.

Mayor Wimping and City Manager Spurgeon urged residents to exercise their right to free speech while keeping the discussion calm and neighborly. McCullough thanked Northeastern State University for providing space to accommodate the meeting and said city staff will be easily identifiable by issued ID badges.

The council has not taken final action on the application; the Planning Commission’s recommendation was only that — a recommendation that will be considered by City Council members at the Jan. 12 special meeting. The meeting will be livestreamed and city staff have provided rules intended to balance robust public participation with safety and order.