Residents tell council to delay mosque approval; some speakers question Muslim ideology

Multiple residents used the public-comment period to urge the council to delay or oppose a proposed Islamic mosque development on North Murphy and McMillan Road.

Christine, who provided her address for the record, said she opposed the mosque project because of its scale and potential impacts on traffic, school capacity and local character, and she asked the council to delay approval so all residents can be informed. “I’m here today to respectfully voice my opposition to the Islamic mosque development in Murphy,” Christine said. She said of the 13 families she spoke with about the proposal, only two knew it was planned and asked the council to provide wider notice and time for public input.

Another commenter, Jan Stormont, expressed broader concerns about what she described as an ideology she associated with Muslim communities and urged elected officials to consider assimilation and security implications in their decision-making. Her remarks included references to several countries as examples and a personal story about a neighbor born in Iran; these comments addressed cultural and ideological concerns rather than specific zoning citations.

Samuel Hand, speaking later in public comment, reminded the council that the public-comment forum protects free speech and said he had seen no threats of violence; he asked the council to recognize residents’ right to express concerns. “This forum is a perfect example of utilizing our right to free speech,” Hand said.

Council did not take immediate action on a mosque application during the meeting; residents requested delay and broader notification for the project.