Rocky Salmon
On Dec. 1, the Temecula Planning Commission will vote on the new proposed building for the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 comment print page text size
Temecula city staff is recommending that planning commissioners approve a controversial mosque along Nicolas Road.
On Dec. 1, the Temecula Planning Commission will vote on the new proposed building for the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley. The group has spent years praying inside a small industrial building on Rio Nedo near Old Town Temecula.
The 24,943-square-foot mosque needs a conditional-use permit for the project to be built on 4.3 acres in a rural area of Temecula. The commission has to rule on the merits of whether the project would fit with city zoning laws, specifically on traffic issues.
Other critics of the project are concerned less about traffic and more about the politics of the association of Islam.
The staff report, released Wednesday, states the traffic analysis shows the mosque would have less than significant impact to the roads in the area. The group would need to add two-way left turn lane at the eastbound direction at Nicolas Road and Calle Colibri.
The study further states that the intersections of Winchester and Nicolas roads and Winchester and Margarita Roads are already operating under a less than satisfactory level of service. The traffic study states congestion in the area will ease with the implementation of a city-wide electronic traffic monitoring system, which officials expect to be running by April 2011.
The mosque will have two entrances – both along Calle Colibri.
The mosque will build 104 parking spaces for phase one. The first phase will include a 4,157 square foot building that houses a prayer hall and storage area. The second phase will add to the prayer hall with a 20,786 square foot two-story expansion. The center will build additional parking spaces for a total of 181.
The buildings will have two minarets that will blend with the Mediterranean architecture of the mosque. The minarets will not be taller than the highest point of the main building.
The Planning Commission has already been postponed twice and city officials expect a long public hearing over the issue.
The commission meets at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 43200 Business Park Drive.
November 24, 2010, SWRNN
