LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Resident Asks Chairman Why He Wasn't Informed About Proposed Mosque

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The morning of Aug. 14, a resident of Schaeffer Lane in Nokesville sent an email addressed to Chairman Corey Stewart of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, regarding the building of the ADAMS (All Dulles Area Muslim Society) mosque in Nokesville.  A copy of the email was also sent to a few local media outlets.

Thursday afternoon Chairman Stewart responded. Bristow Beat was contacted on that email.

The following emails are printed verbatim. They have not been edited.

Mr. Stewart:

Can someone please explain to me as a resident of Schaeffer Lane in Nokesville, why I had to find out from my neighbor about the ADAMS proposal for a 500+ person facility with access from my street and from ADAMS themselves that they had applied for access to Vint Hill but that was turned down.  I understand that Mr. Covington has retired in place with his planned coronation to the bench, but why were we not notified by you or the planning commission.  They came to the ADAMS meeting but sat on their hands and nodded their heads as usual.  What is the purpose of the county government if you do not inform us of major issues such as this.

I understand the difficult position of disproving a facility for Muslims but with Schaeffer Lane being a narrow rural road with no shoulders, no curb, no sidewalk, is this really a hard one?  Can you really tell me that this is a tough decision compared to giving them access to Vint Hill? Really?

I would really like to know what we are paying you for if you can not keep us informed!  If this is not in your lane then what is?

Michael Ochs

10505 Schaeffer Lane

Nokesville, VA 20181

(Phone number was removed from publication)

Mr. Ochs,

Thank you for your e-mail. I appreciate you contacting me and would like to share and clarify some information regarding the ADAMS application for a new center.

•             The meeting referenced in the email was not a County meeting.  It was a community meeting sponsored by the applicant.  It is not uncommon for applicants to meet independently with the community during the development review process.

•             This Special Use Permit application is currently under review by County agencies.  No decisions have been made about this case (including whether or not the project may access Vint Hill Road if this case is ultimately approved by the Board of County Supervisors).

•             When the Prince William County Staff review of the case is complete, it will be scheduled for a public hearing before the Planning Commission.  The Planning Commission will consider input from the community as well as information from the applicant and staff before making a recommendation to the Board of County Supervisors.

•             Following the Planning Commission public hearing, the Board of County Supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider the applicant’s proposal.

•             Each public hearing will be advertised in the Prince William Times newspaper and posted on the County’s Development Application Processing Schedule in advance of the meeting.  In addition, notices will be sent to neighboring property owners and the subject property will be posted with signs notifying the community of the public hearing.

Please feel free to contact my office with questions or concerns.

--Corey

Corey A. StewartChairman

Prince William Board of County Supervisors

1 County Complex CourtPrince William,

 VA 22192(703) 792-4640

cstewart@pwcgov.org

www.pwcgov.org

Opinions expressed in these letters do not necessarily reflect those of Bristow Beat writers, publishers or sponsors.

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