Islamic Community Cultural Center Continues their attempt to subvert Parsippany Zoning and Master Plan Contin

Earth in crisis religion isn't helping 879 So. Beverwyck continues

Chapter 430. Zoning RCW Recreation, Conservation and Wildlife District according to Purposes and Objectives of the Zoning is being ignored by a religious institution. Somehow Parsippany has apparently not requested a Environmental Impact Study despite the fact the land exists within the zone, and border directly on Wildlife Preserves. The 2.71 acre block lot contain a Tier 1 wellhead protection area; 100% of the acres in within this Tier.

Several 430 Subchapter criteria refer to ; "Would cause minimal", impacts, impairments, degradations or risk to the character of the Zone's Ecological Character. How can these 430 Chapter objectives be protected without Environmental Impact Studies?

Parsippany is already zoned for affordable housing; for a religious institution to propose this inappropriate location for for-profit rentals is troubling, and there's something fishy about the whole affair.

In my opinion the Islamic Center is taking Advantage of their "religious exemption status" under the Highlands Exemption that the Town has granted them. The Islamic Center is Grandfather in its present footprint but is allowed certain conditions of change under Highlands Exemption #4

Parsippany apparently granted the Mosque a Highlands Exemption #4
The statewide redevelopment standard and the Highlands Redevelopment Designation and Exemption #4 for reconstruction allow for a 125% increase in the impervious surface footprint.

The Highlands exemption that applies to places of worship is as follows:
“Any improvement, for non-residential purposes, to a place of worship owned by a nonprofit entity, society or association, or association organized primarily for religious purposes, or a public or private school, or a hospital, in existence on the date of enactment of this [Highlands] act, including but not limited to new structures, an addition to an existing building or structure, a site improvement , or a sanitary facility.”
The exemption only applies to non-residential structures. However, an exemption 4 may apply to construction on existing impervious surfaces. ( Allowance for 125% increase surface footprint)

Parsippany seems not to be doing their due diligence in defending the Recreation Conservation Wildlife Zone, and not seeing the obvious; construction on existing impervious surface allowance, has now turned into a Residential Housing Project, despite the exemption not allowing such.

The Proposal(s) Zoning Changes are many. Here is my contention of what the fishy part of all this is.
The Center wishes to combine in a whole structure within their footprint the Tax Exempt Mosque, and the tax rateable apartments in one structure with the present grandfather exemption for the Mosque, and the proposed housing in one structure,despite the exemption forbidding residential structures.
The plot is that the whole can be divided from the sum of its parts; one for the exemption, the other not.

They are doing this without any demand by Parsippany Authorities to Request an Environmental Impact Study despite the known landscape character, wetlands, wetland-buffers, open waters, wildlife habitat, and the Tier 1 wellhead protection areas.

This was also recently brought to light concerning the present administration, and it's mindset on issues of environment from NJ Highlands Council.

No proposed action from the Township regarding a natural resource inventory or groundwater recharge areas. Wellhead protection is a requirement of conformance with the Highlands Regional Master Plan and the Township has not moved beyond the Referral Ordinance to adopt Highlands wellhead protection standards. As a conforming municipality the Township is eligible for grant funds to complete the various components of plan conformance.

Parsippany has not done a good job in the past protecting it's sensitive landscapes, including groundwater recharge areas, and wellheads. It appears to be continuing this mindset where our remaining natural places exist in a vacuum.