Brookfield Mosque Earns Support of Plan Commission

With the overwhelming majority of people urging the mosque be built, commissioners voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Common Council.

Following overwhelming support at a public hearing Monday night, city plan commissioners unanimously backed construction of a mosque in Brookfield, sending the plans to aldermen for final approval.

The voice vote drew applause, handshakes and hugs among the approximately 30 people who stayed to hear the vote after the hearing that packed the Common Council chambers and two overflow areas.

Commissioner Gary Mahkorn, one of two aldermen whose district includes the mosque site, said he was "so proud" of the community for its support of religious diversity and freedom of religious worship, despite concerns some raised about Islam and terrorism.

"We're a welcoming community," Mahkorn said. "I'm proud of this community. I'm proud of this country."

Mushir Hassan, project manager for the Islamic Society of Milwaukee and a Brookfield resident and physician, said he was bouyed by the positive reaction Monday.

"We're obviously very encouraged," Hassan said. "It's just very heart-warming the degree of support we've got from the greater community."

The commissioners' recommendation — which includes a long list of conditions including building an extended right-turn lane from Pheasant Drive onto Calhoun Road — now goes to the Common Council for a possible vote at its May 15 meeting.

If aldermen accept the recommendation (three of the city's 14 aldermen were among the seven plan commissioners voting Monday night), construction could begin as soon as June, with occupancy of the mosque eyed for spring 2013, Hassan has said.

The Islamic Society of Milwaukee has a May 18 fundraiser planned to help secure the estimated $1.5 million cost to build the mosque's first phase. A second phase that could add another 10,000 square feet to the mosque and increase maximum worship space from 114 people to 350 would raise the total cost to $3.6 million.