Prayer centre opponents go to OMB

Residents raise $35,000 to fight plan to transform a house

WATERLOO — A group of local residents opposed to a plan to turn a house into a Muslim prayer centre have raised $35,000 to hire a lawyer to appeal the rezoning before the Ontario Municipal Board.

In a Facebook post, residents calling themselves the Waterloo West Community Association said the municipal board will hear their appeal next year. A pre-hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25.

Asif Manzoor, head of the Muslim Association of Canada’s local chapter and the group behind the prayer centre, said he is disappointed with the OMB appeal.

“The rezoning was a long process for us to go through,” said Manzoor. Now, there will be further energy and costs associated with hearing the appeal, he said.

“We do believe everyone has the right to go to the OMB and have their opinions heard but this does have an impact on us as an organization,” he said.

Waterloo council unanimously approved the divisive rezoning application in June. It allows 510 Erbsville Rd., currently a house and garage on a busy roadway, to be used as a community prayer centre.

Manzoor said the house could accommodate 20 to 30 people to pray in the Laurelwood neighbourhood.

The controversial issue drew a large crowd at council last summer and the city received hundreds of emails, some in support and others against the rezoning.

Council reported that issues of traffic and noise would not be concerns with the house becoming a prayer centre.

Waterloo Coun. Brian Bourke said people have the right to appeal to the OMB, but he hopes the issues are strictly related to development concerns.

Any discussion about religious differences was stopped by city councillors when the issue came before them.

Bourke said “disturbing” and “unpleasant” comments were made during the rezoning process.

“Do we have difficulties between groups of people? Yes, we do,” he said.

During the review, the Muslim association held a public meeting to invite questions from the com-

munity. It turned ugly when some people hurled hateful comments at the group.

The group opposed to the prayer centre also held a community meeting.

On Facebook they are known as “Residents Opposed to 510 Erbsville Rd. Rezoning.”

The group says it is concerned about future plans to build a large community centre at the site.

Manzoor said any further development of the site is on hold.

The city approved the rezoning as is but any plans to expand the facilities on the site would need further city approval.