Carmel’s Board of Zoning Appeals on Feb. 26 approved a proposal for an Islamic Life Center at 141st Street and Shelborne Road near the city’s border with Zionsville. Many celebrated that it would create the first mosque in Carmel city limits, but some neighbors expressed concerns about traffic, noise and more.
Now, five neighbors have hired Zionsville attorney Michael Andreoli to represent them to ask for a judicial review of the BZA’s approval of the special use application.
“Obviously they didn’t agree with the BZA decision, and that’s why they are appealing,” Andreoli said.
The plaintiffs include David Bidgood, Sheila M. Graves, Salvatore Pappalardo, David J. Reeves and Angelo R. Stanco.
A pretrial conference hearing has been scheduled for Hamilton County Superior Court Judge Steve Nation’s court on April 25.
The Al Salam Foundation, which is planning to build the mosque, sent out a letter this week stating, “This is not a surprise nor an unexpected development. This has been a possible outcome following the BZA decision.”
The Al Salam Foundation does have legal counsel available in case any action is needed from them. Ashhar Madni, a board member for the foundation, said it’s too early to comment but the foundation will inform the public when more information is available.
