City Council Unanimously Greenlights Mosque Plan in Texas
McKinney City Council members unanimously approved plans for a proposed mosque amid concerns from citizens about the impact of the development on the surrounding community.
Prior to council’s Tuesday night vote, about 150 people spoke—a mix of supporters and opponents of the mosque plan—during a long and sometimes rowdy meeting that overflowed city hall.
Councilman Patrick Cloutier had previously stated that members would approve the plan, explaining during a July 21 meeting council members’ “ministerial” duty under city law to allow property developments that meet established zoning requirements.
City administrators also spoke Tuesday night, explaining their process for reviewing and approving the submitted mosque plans.
Lucas Rayleigh, McKinney’s director of city planning, said most site plans are administratively approved and do not come before planning and zoning or council for a vote.
No rezone or design exceptions were requested for the current mosque plan, so no notice to nearby property owners was required, but the property’s older “planned development” zoning designation still required votes of approval from P&Z and council.
Rayleigh and Gary Graham, McKinney’s director of engineering, reviewed details of the submitted plans and revisions made over the past two years—including parking calculations, traffic studies, drainage and erosion issues, and impact on a nearby creek.
The McKinney Islamic Association proposed building a mosque and related facilities on 5.5 acres at the corner of Virginia Parkway and Crutcher Crossing. MIA bought the property in 2022 for the purpose of expanding beyond its current masjid on Eldorado Parkway, which the group has outgrown.
Approved plans include a 15,000 square foot mosque, a 10,000 square foot classroom building, and 7,000 square foot gym.
A site plan submitted in 2024 for a 40,000 square foot mosque required a rezoning of the property, which city planners rejected.
City administrators concluded that the new site plan for the mosque is “fully compliant” with the property’s original zoning and the city’s newer Unified Development Code, leaving officials no discretion to reject the project at this stage.
Assistant City Manager Jennifer Arnold noted Tuesday that a site plan “is not the only plan that has to be considered and acted upon as part of the development process.”
“It is the first plan in a commercial project that has to be considered and reviewed. From there, we will receive full civil engineering plans, plat plans, building elevations, and building permits,” said Arnold. “All of those plans, as they are reviewed, are compared against that site plan for conformance.”
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Graham reiterated that the council was voting on a preliminary “conditional approval of a site plan that’s before you.”
Councilwoman Geré Feltus, whose district includes the mosque property, said she is “still open to conversations” with her constituents and will “keep looking for solutions.”
“We’re going to look into every possibility that we can to help to alleviate some of the congestion that you’re seeing, and we’ll do as much as we possibly can,” she said.
Councilwoman Feltus called for the mosque plan to be pulled off the consent agenda for further discussion, including a presentation from city administrators.
Feltus said city staff had “gone above and beyond” to answer questions and provide clarity about the proposed plan.
“There is not one question that has gone unanswered without thorough vetting and a great response to why we are being presented this site plan the way it is and why it’s compliant with our code,” said Feltus. “And so because of that, it is incumbent on me to move forward, and going ahead to approve this item. It does not mean the conversation stopped.”
“This is a site plan approval, nothing else,” said Councilman Justin Beller, the only other member to comment on the mosque proposal.
Councilman Beller praised the McKinney Islamic Association as “good neighbors.”
Beller said he has “several friends that I know and trust” who attend the current mosque regularly and “undoubtedly are an asset to this community. They have a constitutional right to worship without hindrance.”
With this proposal, they’ve worked with city staff to conform to the existing zoning. They’ve listened to the concerns. They’ve made a request, after they made a request to P&Z a few years ago. I think they’ve earned and deserve a little trust that they’ll do right by you as their neighbors.
Beller also berated speakers who focused on the dangers of radical Islam and accused “partisan politicians” of “election-year fear-mongering.”
“I’m understanding to the neighbors who have practical concerns about traffic, parking, free space, green space … Change is difficult,” added Beller. He blamed traffic issues on state and county officials’ failure to improve regional transportation in the area.
“Be a good neighbor to others,” Beller concluded. “That’s what makes McKinney what it is.”
As expected, the vote was a unanimous 7-0.
Source: texasscorecard.com
