Muslim prayer site in Waterloo gets go-ahead

— Everyone now agrees to let Muslims pray in a small house on a big lot at 510 Erbsville Rd.

But a planning challenge will continue over a bigger prayer centre planned on the site in north Waterloo.

On Tuesday, residents who oppose a bigger centre settled part of the challenge they launched against Waterloo council and a local Muslim group. This cut short up to four days of hearings before a provincial tribunal.

The settlement means the Muslim Association of Canada can use the house it owns for prayers, as council approved.

The site can’t be used as a gymnasium, up to 34 parking spaces must be provided within a year, and there are restrictions around altering green space or chopping trees.

“It was a great outcome for us,” said Asif Manzoor, head of the Muslim association’s local chapter. “It’s a good path forward.”

“We actually got our way,” Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky said. “Right now the goal is to get people to be able to pray in their current site.”

A planning battle over a possible expansion will continue before Ontario’s Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. No date has been set.

Residents calling themselves the Waterloo West Community Association oppose a bigger centre on the site, citing noise, traffic and environmental concerns. Critics have accused them of anti-Muslim sentiment.

The divisive issue has drawn crowds. But attendance was sparse when a planning tribunal convened. Security guards were present but had little to do.

Hope Yang, director of the residents’ group, declined to comment.

“Our concerns relate to land-use planning issues that pertain to an expanded, redeveloped building on site,” said Raj Kehar, a lawyer for the residents’ group.

The Muslim association plans to expand, but not right away, Manzoor said. Waterloo council has acknowledged possible expansion.

“We kind of have no plan, but a plan,” Manzoor said. “As the community grows, its needs will grow and our ultimate goal is to set up a prayer centre for the neighbourhood.”

In a related issue, the residents’ group that raised $35,000 to challenge a bigger prayer centre has gone to court, hoping to block an order to identify its members.

The planning tribunal, dismissing privacy concerns, ordered a membership list be released to help assess neighbourhood impacts. Residents have asked a Toronto court to let it appeal the order. The matter remains unresolved.