Carmel homeowners demand the city's first mosque move, but Muslim leaders say it can't

As Carmel homeowners demanded on Sunday that a local Muslim foundation find a different place to build the city's first mosque — preferably one farther than 30 feet from their homes — religious leaders revealed why it isn't that simple. 

There aren't many property sellers willing to work with the Al Salam Foundation knowing their plans to build a place of worship, said president Nadeem Ikhlaque. The group has been looking for five years.

"There are very few sellers in the community who are willing to work with us on the idea of building a mosque," he said. "Several said the land is for sale, but not for us."

The foundation has submitted plans to build a 28,000 square-foot mosque, also called the Islamic Life Center, on five acres at 141st Street and Shelborne Road. The problem: It's a residential area. The property backs onto a neighborhood where homes can sell for more than $700,000.

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The Muslim group is trying to get its plans approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals as a "special use," allowed under the residential code. But homeowners are worried about additional traffic, light, noise and a potential drop in home values.

On Sunday, about a week before the zoning board is set to discuss the plans, the Al Salam Foundation held a community meeting in the Carmel Christian Church to address questions. About 100 people filled the pews.

Ikhlaque responded to concerns he'd received in letters, promising no outdoor speakers, a hot line number where residents could report any disturbances caused by construction, and that any cars that parked in the nearby neighborhoods rather than the mosque parking lot would be towed.

"I will take full responsibility personally and I will take full responsibility as president," he said.

The dome of the building has been lowered from initial plans so it will be under 35 feet tall. The entrances are from the main roads, so traffic won't be rerouted to the neighborhoods, Ikhlaque said. He also expects home values in the area will rise as the mosque creates more demand for the area.

However, the parking lot is along the back of the property, which the architect said was to allow people to enter from the west and head toward the worship area that must face northeast. Plans show 30 feet of "vegetation" between the lot and some homes' backyards.

"I came out here to have privacy," one resident said during a tense moment, "I spent my entire life savings on a house ... I just lost my privacy."

Mike Andreoli, a Zionsville attorney who has been hired to represent some residents, criticized the Al Salam Foundation for waiting until a week before the vote to reach out to the community. He questioned whether the group would soon expand to an additional nine acres to the north, which is also part of the sale.

Al Salam Foundation leaders said there are no expansion plans and a gas line running through the northern acreage would prevent them from building much on the property. Purchasing the additional land was the only way the seller would agree to the deal, they said, but residents remained skeptical.

The Muslim group, whose members are drawn mostly from Carmel, Westfield and Zionsville, has outgrown its current rented space on 96th Street with about 150 people squeezing in for Friday prayers.

That large crowd is only seen from 1-2:30 p.m. on Fridays, Ikhlaque said. On weekdays, he said, the average gathering is about 20 people, or between seven and 12 cars. 

One homeowner asked why the group is so set on this particular spot, and another suggested an open commercial lot on 106th Street. Ikhlaque said they made an offer on that property before finding this space, and were denied.

After the meeting Ikhlaque said he doesn't think the denials from other sellers, or the concerns from the community, have anything to do with religion. He listed "lack of exposure" and "media pressure" as potential reasons their offers were denied.

During the meeting, community members were very clear this wasn't about religion. One resident felt compelled to explain his best friend growing up was Muslim before he asked his question.

"Not one person who has contacted me asked about religion," said city councilman Kevin Rider. He encouraged community members to stop posting on social media, where comments can easily be misconstrued.

Rider said he hopes the zoning board will delay the decision, but suggested the community work to improve plans for the mosque, because, while it's not uncommon for communities to push back on projects that use residential property, these things "often are approved."

The Carmel Board of Zoning Appeals meets at 6 p.m. Jan. 22 in the Monon Community Center East Building, 1235 Central Park Drive East.

IndyStar reporter Robert King contributed to this report

Call IndyStar reporter Emma Kate Fittes at (317) 513-7854. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyEmmaKate.