Rather than allow a church to be sold to representatives of a Chicago mosque, the Palos Heights City Council has recommended that the city try to buy the Reformed Church of Palos Heights property for recreational use.
Ald. Jim Murphy, who made the motion, also suggested that the attorney offer the mosque foundation reasonable legal fees for its work thus far.
In the past, Ald. Julie Corsi, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, and Murphy had suggested that the city condemn the property, but at a recent meeting Ald. Jim Healy said negotiations with the church would only be fair.
Corsi asked that the city’s attorney provide details on the condemnation procedure at a City Council meeting Tuesday.
The Al Salam Mosque Foundation has a $2.1 million contract to buy the property at 6600 W. 127th St. but had been awaiting assurances from the city that it can use the space as a school on weekends, in addition to a religious facility.
But aldermen contended the property should be bought by the city, which has limited space for recreation and is expecting an influx of families from the developing Westgate Valley Estates subdivision.
Residents have shown up at city meetings en masse to oppose the mosque moving to Palos Heights. More than 150 residents attended a recent Planning and Zoning Committee meeting, many saying the mosque would bring too much traffic, especially on Fridays when it holds its main religious service.
About 160 residents attended the recent meeting to oppose the mosque and support condemnation. They insisted they want the city to take control of the space for recreation and denied past insinuations that their request was racially motivated.
“I believe anybody who brings up the other stuff (discrimination) does so to confuse and cloud the issue,” said resident John Kasman.
But several residents disagreed.
“I have a simple question for us all, and that is where was the energy, where was the eloquence, where were we before we learned that that church might be turned into a mosque?” said Michael Vander Weele.
Ald. Bob Donnick questioned where the city would find the $2.1 million to buy the property, saying the city budget showed only a $400,000 balance.
Several aldermen had been against condemnation because they said it would be too long and expensive a process. A previous condemnation proposal by Corsi failed 5-2 last month.
“Absolutely not,” said Donnick, adding that another site should be found for recreation. “I saw what it (condemnation) did to the Metra station.”
Donnick was referring to the city’s unsuccessful legal battle between 1992 and 1995 to condemn a family farm at 117th Street and Southwest Highway in the hopes of using the property to build a train station.
Aldermen have said the mosque would likely need to apply for a special-use permit to hold a school at the site, especially because it holds services on a different day from most other churches in the area.
But Rouhy J. Shalabi, attorney for the mosque, said he doubted such a permit was needed, after reviewing case law and consulting with another attorney on the subject.
“Based on the information given, it would fall under an existing permit, and therefore the mosque would be able to operate under that,” said Shalabi, adding he would be in touch with Tom Brown, the city attorney, to confirm this and receive written verification.
Brown has said the mosque likely would fall into an existing special use, as long as its school were no different from a Sunday school. Mayor Dean Koldenhoven, who has urged the council to honor Shalabi’s request for a written explanation of the city’s requirements, agreed.
