Waterloo council set to vote on contentious prayer centre

At least 25 people have signed up to speak Monday when rezoning application goes to council

WATERLOO — It’s almost time for politicians to vote on a highly controversial proposal to turn a house into a Muslim prayer centre on Erbsville Road.

City staff said it supports the rezoning application. On Monday, it will be up to council to make a final decision.

The local chapter of the Muslim Association of Canada wants to rezone a home at 510 Erbsville Rd. to use as a community prayer centre, but the application has faced fierce opposition from area residents since it was first proposed a year ago.

“It’s certainly reassuring to see city staff is recommending our proposal. It is essentially what we had hoped for,” said Asif Manzoor, the head of the Muslim Association of Canada’s local chapter.

He said the group is “excited” and “hopeful” for Monday’s council meeting.

“The community can’t wait to start praying there.”

The Muslim association wants to rezone the land from agricultural to institutional with a portion of it zoned as green space.

It has been a hot topic for many residents in Waterloo’s Laurelwood neighbourhood.

The city has received more than 300 emails on the subject. Online petitions in support and opposition to the prayer centre have gained hundreds of signatures each. At least 25 people have signed up to speak at Monday’s council meeting.

“People are really interested in this,” ward Coun. Brian Bourke said. He has heard all sorts of comments from residents

who support the prayer centre and those who oppose it.

Opponents have complained about more traffic and noise at odd times as local Muslims will use the centre for prayers five times each day. Some are worried about potential environmental impacts. Many are wary of possible future plans to build a bigger centre.

A staff report said the proposal is supported by the city’s planning guidelines and official policies.

It says traffic will not be impacted because a house-turned-prayer centre meant to accommodate up to 25 people a day will not impact traffic on Erbsville Road. The road can handle 20,000 vehicles a day. Right now it averages about 12,000.

As for green space, the area’s natural features will be protected under the proposed green zoning, the report says. It also mentions the Region of Waterloo and Grand River Conservation Authority have signed off on proposed setbacks from wetlands and woodlands in the area.

Spiritual spaces are commonly located throughout the west Waterloo neighbourhood and staff also notes that spiritual spaces are allowed in residential areas and they encourage a sense of belonging.

The staff report said it acknowledges the Muslim association’s future plans for a community centre are “conceptual” and say it was not a part of the current application. It recommends a holding provision be placed on the site so further studies will be required when and if a new building is proposed.

The Muslim association has said a larger facility would depend on the association’s finances. For now, the proposed prayer centre is intended to serve as a neighbourhood prayer spot that Laurelwood residents can walk and bike to.

For about a year, this seemingly simple rezoning request has veered away from being a city planning issue for some.

The Muslim association held a public meeting to invite questions from the community earlier this year. It turned ugly when some people hurled hateful comments at the group.

Manzoor said they have not received any bigoted or hateful comments recently but have in fact received a lot of messages of support.

The main group opposed to the prayer centre also hosted a meeting strictly for opposed residents. About 60 people attended. Known as “Residents Opposed to 510 Erbsville Rd. Rezoning” on Facebook, the group did not invite the Muslim association, citing the desire to avoid “conflict” at the time.

Opponents in the group have repeatedly said its issues are not “religion or race” related. On top of traffic and noise concerns, its main issue is with possible future plans to build a larger community centre at the site.

But the group’s Facebook page has attracted comments such as “put it (prayer centre) in a desert anywhere not here” and “I certainly wouldn’t want a mosque in my neighbourhood … in my opinion, Islam is an ideology that spreads like a virus.”

Members of the group did not respond to The Record’s requests for comment.

When Coun. Bourke was asked if he has received bigoted comments about this proposal, he said: “I’m not going to categorize those comments. I don’t want to play that way. All I have to say is I have had comments that are not about planning issues.”

He said he will take the weekend to review staff ’s report and consider all the comments. “That is the only thing you can do. Make a decision based on the planning issues.”

The council meeting is on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Waterloo City Hall.