Sayreville mosque closed by judge heading to planning board with major expansion proposal
SAYREVILLE – An Islamic congregation wants to build a mosque on Ernston Road in the Parlin section of the borough on the Old Bridge border.
The planned 44,391-square-foot mosque with a 40-foot minaret is proposed for a 2.49-acre property in the R-7 Residential Zone District on Ernston Road between Bordentown Avenue and Route 9 west of Samsel Upper Elementary School.
The borough Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the project at 7:30 p.m. April 3 in Council Chambers, 167 Main St. The hearing was originally scheduled to be held at the Feb. 21 meeting, but that meeting was canceled due to public noticing requirements.
The lot now houses Masjid Sadar and Community Center, which was closed due to code violations, and is the subject of ongoing litigation between the borough and Shameer Properties, owner of the lot. The existing structures on the lot would be removed.
The proposal calls for a three-story building with three prayer halls, two for men (3,332 square feet and 5,057 square feet) and one for women (1,5621 square feet).
The plan also includes a gym with a basketball court, separate exercise rooms for men and women, five classrooms, a 2,658-square-foot multipurpose room, a kitchen, an eating area, two offices and a 1,733-square-foot youth activity hall.
The plan proposes 109 parking spaces with 64 spaces in a parking garage under the building. The remaining 45 parking spaces would be between the building and Ernston Road. Access to the site would be by four driveways from Ernston Road.
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In December 2022, the borough filed a lawsuit against Shameer Properties alleging it failed to obtain a certificate of compliance from the borough, failed to get construction permits and for continuing construction in violation of a stop work order.
Superior Court Judge Michael Toto ordered that the mosque, which "has been operating in violation of multiple borough ordinances" for years, to remain closed until inspections show all health and building codes are being followed.
The mosque, Toto wrote, "has been in clear violation of the borough ordinances and yet is continuing to use the premises in this condition without regard to the health and safety risks imposed on its occupants."
The judge also wrote that the mosque may not conduct services until the "property can be properly inspected."
According to a borough official, there has been no organized activity at the mosque. The congregation has been holding their services at a rented facility in the borough.
That litigation is still pending in Middlesex County Superior Court. A case management conference had been scheduled for Feb. 1 but Lawrence Sachs, attorney for Shameer, requested a postponement until after the Planning Board meeting.
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Masjid Sadar in Sayreville NJ proposes major expansion
