2nd Letter of the Week, 5/19/08: Wallingford's Mosque and destruction

[David]

Note: for much more commentary and exchange of ideas on this topic, be sure to visit our "Story of the Day (http://forums.ctrecord.com/showthread.php?t=778)" forum.

Linda Bush and Wallingford's mosque
Editor:

Once again, I am amazed at the lack of planning that Wallingford’s so-called town planner, Linda A. Bush does. While watching the recent zoning board meeting regarding the building of a 4,900-sq.-ft. mosque in a residential zoned area off Leigus Rd. and Rt. 68, only confirms my belief that Linda Bush is a destructor, not a planner.

Bush refers to a number of other religious buildings that have been built in residential neighborhoods in Wallingford’s history as a reason not to have the applicant pay for an additional traffic study. She fails to do her research as to how many of these institutions are able to have their worshippers take either a left or a right when entering or departing their locations. She fails to see that 99 percent of the 103 vehicles entering and exiting the proposed site will head towards Rt. 68, causing a huge increase in traffic and potential safety issues (especially with kindergarten buses entering Leigus Rd. at the same time as the worshippers).

This failure to plan was seen before — and in the exact-same intersection. She failed to plan on how the MLN site would need to use Leigus Rd. when she told the residents during zoning meetings that they would not need to access Leigus. Once she realized that her lack of planning would cause the MLN building to seek to use Leigus as an access way to gain tenants, she stated that, “the residents would have to accept the good with the bad, the good being taxes and the bad being traffic.”

My suggestion would be that Linda Bush plan on being accountable to the residents of Wallingford versus looking to destruct their neighborhoods and possibly their children’s safety.

BRIAN SABIA, WALLINGFORD

[Fit 2 Print]

I've read all the comments in the "Story of the Day (http://forums.ctrecord.com/showthread.php?t=778)" forum on this topic, and still can't quite understand what people's objection really is. Can someone explain it in clear terms, please? Thanks, in advance! :)

[Jack357]

I've read all the comments in the "Story of the Day" forum on this topic, and still can't quite understand what people's objection really is. Can someone explain it in clear terms, please? Thanks, in advance! :)

Like you I have read the posts in the other thread. I see it this way, the resident’s in the housing area on Leigus Rd are not happy. They live in an area that is zoned residential and they have had this big office complex forced on them thus increasing traffic in the residential area. I would not want this if I had a home in a residential area.

Now someone wants to build a Mosque across the street from the MLN site which will again increase traffic in the residential area. According to the Zoning Laws a Church (Mosque in this case) can be built in a residential zone but they need to obtain a special permit to do this.

In my opinion the only time a special permit should be granted for this is if the Church or Mosque serves the majority of the residents in the neighborhood, otherwise it should be built elsewhere.

[jma]

In my opinion the only time a special permit should be granted for this is if the Church or Mosque serves the majority of the residents in the neighborhood, otherwise it should be built elsewhere.

So now we need to take a poll of the neighborhood to see what everyone's religion is? Are you serious???

[Fit 2 Print]

In the "Story of the Day" forum on this topic there's some very interesting commentary. The project has already cleared hurdle one. Finish line is in sight...I think...

[wallyworld resident]

The original R-J story quotes Farid as saying "The mosque, Farid said ... would be open to all Muslims. Farid is hopeful for community support, he said. While the media often associates Islam with violence and radicalism, he said, true Islam promotes peace.

There is a need for a local mosque, Farid said, since there are many Muslims in the area who must travel to Islamic institutions in Berlin or Hamden to pray. The location is ideal, he said, because of easy highway access."

So we already know that the mosque is being built not for the neighborhood but for the region. And there are other sites available, nearer to I-91, that might even be visible from the highway once built. There would be fewer or possibly no neighbors to complain about extra traffic or noise or to call the WPD if they were needed to control traffic or clear possible accidents. The mosque would also alleviate the traffic problem at the Berlin mosque-another problem solved.

Most of the churches in town were built in a different time, when many people walked to neighborhood churches. That is clearly not the case here.

If Farid is really trying to promote peace and gain community support-as he says he is-he should seriously consider building in another location. It would be a win-win for all concerned. His current approach definitely isn't doing what he hoped it would.

[collie]

Yeah and in another example of absolute boneheaded moves, Obama should pick Clinton as his running mate.

Is it June 6th yet? CNN has picked this story up. This may play out as the last town in CT to observe MLK's Birthday, now battles a mosque.

[jma]

This battle is going to bring back David Duke, and other racist pieces of crap trying to stir the pot. Nice going, Wallingford.