Clifton schedules town hall meeting to address mosque parking issues
CLIFTON — The parking situation at the Islamic Center of Passaic County has become an issue for residents of the city's Richfield neighborhood.
Mosque attendees have been parking too close to the corners, neighbors say, at times blocking driveways and overall making it difficult for residents and motorists to navigate the streets. Some fear that emergency vehicles may not be able to get through.
Area residents, including Gina Scaduto, said parking on Friday afternoons, when the Pershing Road and Landis Place mosque is most heavily used, can crowd the streets.
"There are too many vehicles in a residential area," Scaduto said. "I’ve had several arguments with worshippers that refuse to let me through."
The short-term approach has been for police to issue summonses to those who park too close to the corners or block driveways.
City Manager Nick Villano said the city has issued on average 15 to 20 tickets a week. This has been going on since May. He said the city has been doing so with the blessings of the mosque's leaders.
It is not a long-term solution, and the status quo needs to change, all involved said.
The situation diverts police officers, in an already understaffed department, from patrolling and other crucial duties, Villano said.
The long-term solution, he said, may be adding more parking spaces. He said there's enough room in front of the Islamic Center, by Pershing Road, to add 50 to 100 parking spaces. The city may also look to limit the traffic flow by directing vehicles toward Clifton or Van Houten avenues.
Long-term parking problem
Parking issues have been a concern since the center moved to its present location in 2016. The Islamic Center of Passaic County acquired the Richfield Christian Reformed Church at 259 Pershing Road for $3.5 million.
The center purchased the 3-acre property due to a need for additional space after its Paterson mosque could no longer keep up with its growing congregation.
At some point, a portion of the property was sold off, and it now contains a TD Bank branch that fronts on Clifton Avenue. Villano said that is unfortunate because the property could have accommodated a number of cars.
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The city is hoping to have a town-hall-style meeting on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. at City Hall that will serve as a conversation starter among city officials, the leadership and membership of the Islamic center, and neighbors of the growing mosque.
The push for a town hall meeting came from Councilman Tony Latona, who said that for too long the situation has existed and it needs to be addressed. He said he wants all parties to talk it out and find a solution.
Ibrahim Fahmy, the center's president, said the center's leadership will attend.
"We will be going to the town hall meeting and are eager to listen and hear the input of our neighbors," Fahmy said. "We can speak more about it after the meeting."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Clifton NJ town hall meeting to address mosque parking issues
