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Broken Arrow council denies rezoning for proposed Islamic center after hours of public comment
Summary
After a lengthy public hearing marked by heated debate over traffic, floodplain and religious freedom, the Broken Arrow City Council voted 4–1 to deny a rezoning request and conditional-use approval for a planned Islamic center near South Olive Avenue; staff had recommended approval.
Broken Arrow — After more than three hours of public testimony, the Broken Arrow City Council on Wednesday voted 4–1 to deny a rezoning request (BAZ-002469-2025) and associated conditional-use permit (SP-2526-2025) for a proposed Islamic center on land east of South Olive Avenue near the Creek Turnpike.
City staff and the planning commission recommended approval. Rocky Hinkle, community development director, said the 15-acre site has a comprehensive-plan designation (Level 6) that allows higher-intensity uses, and that the planning commission recommended rezoning by a 4–1 vote and the conditional-use permit by 3–2 with a condition restricting outdoor speakers.
The applicant’s agent, Masood Kesem, framed the project as a “low-impact community-oriented use” and urged the council to apply zoning rules consistently to faith-based institutions. “This is not a commercial operation,” Kesem said, adding the mosque would comply with traffic, parking and safety…
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