From Minnesota Public Radio
by Jon Collins
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Members of St. Cloud’s planning commission will hear testimony today on a proposed mosque, school and retail complex that’s facing some opposition from neighbors in a quiet, residential part of the city.
The Islamic Center of St. Cloud has submitted plans for a mosque on land formerly owned by the St. Cloud school district. The project would also include classrooms, a gymnasium and possible retail and office space in a residential area near the city’s Schmidt Park, according to planning documents.
The goal is to have a facility big enough to serve about 600 worshippers, said Dean Wick of Outsource Architecture, which is heading the project.
The Islamic Center reached out to neighbors before filing the official paperwork with the city, hosting a community meeting in the neighborhood earlier in the summer to discuss the proposal, Wick said.
“We were able to tweak the plan a little bit, resend it to everybody and get input from them back,” Wick added. “The plan that we’re presenting is a changed plan from the neighborhood meeting we had initially.”
A report by city staff found that some parts of the project, including the proposed commercial development, could have a negative impact by increasing traffic congestion. City staff noted that the retail and office portions of the project aren’t consistent with the character of the neighborhood. But they recommend approving the proposal except for the retail, restaurant and office space.
