Tri State Islamic Burials seeks small washing facility at West 2nd Street; planners flag zoning and access issues

Tri State Islamic Burials and its engineer presented a sketch plan to the City of Chester Planning Commission on Jan. 14, proposing to consolidate five parcels at 716–718 West 2nd Street and convert an existing two‑and‑a‑half‑story dwelling into a small washing/preparation facility used to prepare decedents according to Islamic practice.

Planning staff told the commission the proposed use is permitted in the LIC (Light Industrial Commercial) zoning district but that the consolidated lot—about 7,958 square feet and roughly 45 feet of frontage—falls short of the LIC minimum lot area (12,000 sq ft) and minimum lot width (80 feet). Staff said those dimensional shortfalls mean the applicant will likely need zoning relief through the Zoning Hearing Board if the project moves forward.

"This building cannot take a funeral home. It's going to be just literally a washing facility to prep a body," said Mahmoud Ahmed, a representative of Tri State Islamic Burials, explaining that ritual washing and shrouding would occur at the site while formal services and prayers would take place at mosques. Ahmed emphasized the site would not perform embalming or long‑term storage, saying, "We do not embalm our loved ones. We do not use caskets. We use strictly Islamic guidelines."

Dave Damon, the project's civil engineer, said the sketch contemplates a six‑space parking lot (including one ADA space) accessed from Mary Street, walkways and an eight‑foot landscape buffer. Damon told the commission the dumpster that currently partially blocks Rainey's Lane appears to belong to a nearby lounge; he said the applicant would contact that business and that the dumpster did not appear to be permanent.

The city engineer, Mister Madison, who reviewed a Jan. 9 engineering memo, urged the applicant to demonstrate turning templates for fire and trash trucks serving Rainey's (Rainey) Lane and Mary Street, and to plan frontage improvements including curbing and pavement restoration where required by the subdivision/land‑development process. "If the use is in fact limited to family washing, then six parking spaces should be sufficient with one ADA," Madison said, but added the public‑safety access and street conditions will be important conditions of any future land‑development permit.

Planning staff and the engineer also noted the procedural path: dimensional variances and any sign relief would be handled by the Zoning Hearing Board (with property owners within 200 feet notified), while subdivision and land‑development approvals require a separate formal application and frontage improvements. Staff emphasized that the sketch plan does not require a formal decision today and that if the project proceeds the application would include specific conditions on visitor maximums and other operational limits.

Councilwoman Portia West and other members of the public asked about turnover and storage. Ahmed said Tri State operates multiple washing facilities in the region and that prompt burials are typical under Islamic practice; he said the Chester site would generally prepare one decedent at a time and rely on refrigeration or partner facilities in rare situations when timing requires short delays.

The commission did not vote on the sketch plan itself. Planning staff summarized next steps: pursue zoning relief if desired by the applicant, demonstrate required turning radii and frontage improvements in land‑development plans, and include any requested sign permits in subsequent zoning filings.

Mahmoud Ahmed: "This is not a funeral home setup. Funeral home—your main job is to inject chemicals. We do not do that." Dave Damon: "The dumpster appears to be ... from Truth Social Lounge," and staff: "Property owners within 200 feet are notified" for zoning hearings.

The commission closed the sketch‑plan discussion after the engineering comments and public questions; staff said outreach to immediate neighbors could be done when and if a formal application is filed.