Islamic Center plans move ahead

County panel unanimously OKs plans for Veals Road site

BY DOUG DAVIS
DOUGDAVIS@DNJ.COM

The Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission members approved unanimously Monday morning a site plan for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, subject to county engineering staff comments.

Ten of the 11 commission members attended the meeting and OK'd the measure.

"The vote went very well," said Essam Fathy, a Murfreesboro physical therapist who heads the planning committee for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. "It was handled professionally and focused on the impact of the center on this community."

The Islamic Center purchased a 15-acre tract of land on Veals Road near the intersection of Bradyville Pike in November 2009.

The north end of the land adjoins the Crestview subdivision. A buffer will be developed on the that side of the property, and on the east side of the property, which is not currently developed.

The mosque currently meets in a building on Middle Tennessee Boulevard in Murfreesboro.

"We were looking for a place that is close to the city, but not in it," said Fathy.

The chosen site is a "nice, friendly area," he said.

He expects site work to be completed soon (some months from now), with the first phase of the main building beginning after that.