Planning Commission Hearing on ADAMS Mosque SUP Scheduled

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Aerial image of the proposed ADAMS site via Prince William County Planning Office Staff report for SUP. Aerial image of the proposed ADAMS site via Prince William County Planning Office Staff report for SUP.

The Prince William Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Special Use Permit proposal for the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) of Greater Gainesville, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m., at the James McCourt Administration Building.

The proposed location of the ADAMS Mosque and Community is located at 12655 Vint Hill Road* in Nokesville. That is east of the intersection of Vint Hill Road and Kettle Run Road, and west of Schaeffer Lane.

The proposed building area is 22,400 square feet with a 500-person capacity and 300 parking spaces on the property. A 30-foot-wide plant section will buffer the religious institution  from its residential neighbors.

In ADAMS’s amended proposal there is only one access point via Vint Hill Road, which would include left and right turn lanes.

The Planning Office has approved the religious institution. Staff noted that religious institutions are permitting in A-1, Agricultural zoning districts if the applicant provides mitigations such as buffers; the use is compatible with nearby existing developments such as schools and churches; and the applicant's proposal is within the permitted building area and capacity.

In addition to those noted above, other issues that the Planning Commission might consideration are whether the SUP matches the long-range land use as outlined in the comprehensive plan; what level of service does the property require from the community per monetary contributions; what issues has the community or other jurisdictions raised; and what legal issues arise from the usage?

The largest issue that could deter the approval of the property is community opposition. As the Staff Recommendation states “the common concerns relate to traffic and access design, threats to the rural area character, septic/sewer policy, and building design.”

Staff said it has also received letters and emails of support, saying that the institution matches previously approved institutions, and explained that the applicant has been involved in the process. “The applicant has participated in multiple community meetings where citizen concerns were vetted.”

The peak times for the mosque are Fridays around 1 p.m. and other religious holidays.

The applicant is requesting sewer access, which is usually denied within the Rural Crescent. Many residents said new schools have already brought too much traffic congestion into their rural residential neighborhood.

Citizens have the opportunity to reach out to the Planning Commission to share their thoughts or concerns. The commission, which consists of eight appointed members, only advises the Board of County Supervisors, which is the final arbiter.

The Commission can recommend the SUP, not recommend it, or conditionally recommend it.

Citizens can provide input by either submitting an email in advance to the planning commissioners or attending to speak at the public hearing. Citizens are allowed up three minutes each to speak.

The meeting will be held in the Board of County Supervisors' meeting room. The James McCoart Building is located at 1 County Complex Court, Prince William, off the Prince William Parkway between Manassas and Lake Ridge.

In addition to the hearing, the public can submit email comments at any time to be added to the case file. The case number is PLN2-14-00313.

The staff report is available for citizens to review.

This article has been updated to include the exact address of the mosque. 

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