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Mosque counsel outlines Cloverdale relocation plan; neighboring church asks how access would work
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Summary
At a Springfield City committee meeting, mosque counsel described plans to relocate from 148 Fort Pleasant to the south end of Cloverdale Street and said the project will not encroach on abutters; a nearby Breakthrough Worship Center said it was "blindsided" and requested a meeting to confirm vehicle access. The committee agreed to keep the item on the May 4 agenda and likely continue it to May 18.
The Springfield City maintenance and development committee on April 28 heard a presentation from mosque counsel about a proposed relocation that would use land at the southern end of Cloverdale Street and were asked to consider discontinuing the unaccepted, "paper" portion of that street.
"What they're planning to do is relocate their present mosque, which is now at 148 Fort Pleasant Street, to an undeveloped piece of property at the southern end of Cloverdale Street," said David Bartley, an attorney representing the mosque, explaining that Cloverdale has never been accepted by the city as a public way. Bartley said the group has hired surveyors and architects and offered to leave a site plan, assessor map and photographs with the committee.
Christina, a board member of Breakthrough Worship Center, told the committee her congregation owns nearby parcels and was not aware of the project. "We're kind of blindsided that this is happening," she said, asking whether closing Cloverdale would block vehicle access to land her group plans to use.
Sahid Farooqi, introduced at the meeting as a mosque board member, and counsel said the mosque does not intend to encroach on neighbors. Bartley told the committee the design work so far are "glorified sketches" but that surveyors would set pins to establish boundaries. He offered to have the mosque's representatives meet on-site with Breakthrough Worship Center to resolve access concerns.
Councilor Victor Davila, who said he had toured the property, encouraged the two faith institutions to work together "to figure out a happy medium" and offered his contact for follow-up.
Committee members discussed timing for next steps. Staff said the discontinuance matter may appear on the council calendar; the committee agreed to keep the item on the May 4 agenda and, if details were not resolved, to continue it to the May 18 meeting. Councilor Perez moved to keep the item on the May 4 agenda and continue it as needed; members agreed to the scheduling plan.
The committee did not vote to discontinue Cloverdale on April 28; members directed parties to meet and said the matter would return to the committee and council for further consideration. The mosque counsel left site plans and maps with committee staff and offered to coordinate an on-site meeting.
What happens next: the discontinuance will remain on the May 4 committee agenda and may be continued to May 18 to allow abutters and mosque representatives to meet and clarify access and boundary details.
