Muslim prayer center, residents collide near West Chicago
By Jake GriffinLeaders of the Islamic Center of Western Suburbs want to convert a house at 28W774 Army Trail Road near West Chicago into the organization’s prayer center and food pantry, but neighbors are fighting the plan.
Kevin Wiley has been waiting for Monday for two years.
That’s the day when DuPage County’s Zoning Board of Appeals opens a hearing into a proposal to convert a house at 28W774 Army Trail Road near West Chicago into the headquarters for the Islamic Center of Western Suburbs.
The leaders of the Muslim group want to turn the house they bought out of foreclosure into a prayer center and food pantry. Neighbors like Wiley want the group to stop using the house for anything other than a residence until the county decides whether to allow a different use.
“First it was the landscaping issues they did without the proper permits that changed the floodplain and caused my basement to flood twice,” Wiley said. “The thing that bothers us the most is the constant rotation of different people coming and going every day.”
This is the third time the issue has been in front of the county’s zoning board. The Islamic Center’s new attorney, Kevin Gallaher, said he is aware of the history surrounding the proposal and is hopeful a resolution satisfactory to all sides can be reached.
“There’s been some miscommunication along the way on the part of all parties,” Gallaher said. “All sides need to come to an understanding as to what the ultimate use of the property will be.”
Islamic Center leaders are seeking a “conditional use” permit that will allow them to operate the property as a religious facility. They also are asking for more parking.
“They’re trying to convert a residential property into something it wasn’t intended to be,” said neighbor Ron Cwik.
Adding to the controversy is a private driveway the Islamic Center shares with Ray and Jackie Sitkiewicz. The couple told the county board last month that many times they’ve found themselves either unable to enter or leave their property because cars of people worshipping at the house five times a day block the drive.
In January, the county cited the Islamic Center’s leaders for zoning violations related to parking and non-permitted uses of the property. The state’s attorney’s office is seeking more than $25,000 in fines it claims the center has racked up since the beginning of the year for failing to comply with the county’s orders. But the case was once again held over for another month last week to see what comes out of Monday’s meeting, Gallaher said.
Compounding the confusion is the state department of revenue’s decision last year to grant a complete property tax exemption for the parcel. That amounts to more than $8,600 off the tax rolls, Wayne Township Assessor Michael Musson said.
Sue Hofer, a spokeswoman for the department, said the decision was based on a recommendation from the county’s board of review.
“We have no way of determining local land use,” she said. “Our job is to determine whether the use of the property is consistent with the law.”
Hofer said the Islamic Center’s paperwork was complete and included federal nonprofit documentation.
DuPage Supervisor of Assessments Craig Dovel said that while his office does make a recommendation in conjunction with the board of review, the state is ultimately responsible for deciding whether to grant an exemption. Dovel and Board of Review Chairman Tony Bonavolonta said the county doesn’t check for zoning violations before making any recommendations.
“We don’t question a religious use,” Bonavolonta said. “We just forward that onto the department of revenue.”
However, Hofer said the state relies on county officials to make sure a property owner seeking a tax exemption is legitimate.
“They are our eyes and ears on the ground,” she said.
Wiley said none of the government agencies are looking out for the residents.
“See? That’s insane with the tax exemption,” he complained. “By them saying they are using the property for religious purposes, they are admitting to the zoning violations.”
The county has been dealing with church-related zoning issues for several years, but the county board rejected a measure that would have imposed significant limitations on locations more than a year ago. The county is being sued by another Muslim organization after a proposal to open a similar prayer center and food pantry near Naperville was rejected recently.
County board member Jim Zay said the issue of zoning for religious facilities in residential areas needs to be addressed.
“It’s not about the church, it’s about property rights,” he said. “People coming into a single-family area have the right to assume it’s going to remain a single-family area.”
No…this is not a repeat post of Muslims trying to do the same exact thing in Brooklyn NY. This time they are showing no respect to their neighbors in Chicago. Muslims are constantly demanding respect, yet they do not care about the wants and beliefs of non-Muslims. Islam is one-way street, and we should return the favor. Say no to Muslim immigration, and Mosque construction.
Hat tip to Dee.
If they stand behind you. Give them protection
If they stand beside you, give them respect.
If they stand against you, show no mercy
The battle for the heart and soul is now exposed.
I am a veteran
I love freedom
I wore dog tags
I have a DD 214
I have served my country
I walked the walk
My oath never ends
Proud US Army Veteran
The final Crusade hold the line; don’t fade. Praise Jesus, Deus Vult
Satan whispered in the warrior’s ear You cannot withstand the storm. The warrior said back I am the storm.
Be bold and strong. God did not create you to be a wimp. Do not turn your back on the enemy and run and hide. The lord has made you to be a warrior. Put on the full armor of God. You are a mighty conqueror in the name of Jesus, and you will never need to fear the enemy and his cohorts. The enemy is a liar. The great I AM is on your side and has equipped you with superior weapons that cannot fail.
Yes, I’m an old Patriot Crusader
My armor may be dented and tarnished
My sword may have rust and nicks
But I will defend those I love to my very last breath
This is my only purpose
Search your heart. You’re never too old to be part of the truth
That chivalry is not extinct
Still standing unyielding. The truth we hold is stronger than the shaking ground they made. Greater is HE that is in me than he that is in the world.”
God willing, let this struggle be the end of Islamic worship.
We will overcome. Praise Jesus. Deus Vult
Muhammad the perfect POS
God’s army is awake, Praise Jesus, Deus Vult
I have been made victorious with terror.
-Muhammad
Islam was born from war and suppression.
Muhammad practiced and promoted,
Warfare and violence
Hatred
Intolerance
Misogyny
Oppression
pedophilia
I’m in the fast lane now. HA HA HA
They hear the warnings.
But they convince themselves that someone else will answer the call.
As European countries are being invaded by fundamentalist extremist Islamists, I pray that such knightly orders will be reformed and armed with high-tech weapons and will play an active role in driving them out.
I pray every day that our roots will be defended in THIS way. May the most powerful warriors of the Church return! Deus Vult!
My other name is Able, with roots in the 12th-century Crusaders.
We will not be slaves to a culture built on ruin and spoil. The time for watching is over; the stand for our Land and our sovereignty begins now.