Hilliard to consider rejected plan for mosque

HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) -- A zoning battle in the city of Hilliard will be in the spotlight this week when the Hilliard city council considers a proposal already rejected by the planning and zoning commission. 

The Noor Islamic Center and Mosque invested millions of dollars to buy the former BMW Financial building on Britton Parkway, which has been vacant for two years. 

Noor leaders said they have a vision to turn the 220,000-square-foot building into a mixed-use facility housing a STEM education center, daycare, community center, medical offices, a restaurant, and general office space. It’s a plan rejected by the planning commission. 

Dr. Ronney Abaza, chairperson of the Noor center, said the mosque doesn’t believe government should be picking winners and losers. 

“Zoning decisions shouldn't be made around who the owner of the building might be,” he said. “If we have a good plan and we can do something that's good for the city with this building, then we need government to get out of the way so we can do it and make it successful and that is really all we are asking for.” 

“I did attend the zoning and planning meeting where presentations were made,” Hilliard City Councilmember Les Carrier said. “You could see the tension, you could feel where the applicant, which is Noor, didn’t feel like they were really listened to and were treated fairly.” 

Carrier said he is open to Noor’s plans for the building but believes many of his colleagues have been unwilling to listen to leaders of the mosque. 

Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday.