KNYSNA NEWS - A group of Knysna residents are considering legal action against the Knysna Municipality after their formal objections against the building of an Islamic centre, including a mosque in Rawson Street were rejected by the council.
A total of 457 people voted for the development, but 1 504 objected.
About 20 residents and property owners gathered in the Knysna Bowling Club on Tuesday, May 26, to discuss further objections and possible action against the planned building of the Islamic centre on the edge of Knysna's CBD. Two representatives of the Knysna Muslim Council also attended, but didn't participate in the discussion.
"We are not against the building of a mosque or the Moslem community's inherent right to build a place of worship," said Susan Campbell of the Knysna Ratepayers' Association. "Our objection is against the chosen site."
Property owners believe the values of their properties will be negatively impacted by the proposed development. The area around Rawson Street is currently zoned as a residential area. The proposed site of the Islamic centre will have to be rezoned for institutional purposes, as the centre will be used for educational purposes as well.
In the resident's formal objection, the complainants sited aspects such as increased traffic levels, insufficient parking, increased sound levels and a change of the character of the area. Various technical aspects, such as building restrictions and the lack of a formal traffic-impact report were also sited.
All objections have failed so far. The group believes that the Knysna Council has simply accepted the recommendations from the planning department and that their objections were not properly considered.
Campbell said that all the objectors want is a fair dispensation for both them and the Moslem community. "We need our objections to be properly looked at and considered. If this process is not fair and accountable, then we can consider our legal options."
She said objections against development were generally reviewed unsatisfactorily in most other cases that she was aware of, such as Oakhill School's sport campus and Lake Brenton.
The group has requested from the speaker, Eleanore Bouw-Spies, an opportunity to address council in the council chambers during their next meeting (on Friday, May 29 at 14:00) to state their case again and receive a fair hearing.
They also want to ask for a full response on their formal objection, to understand on what grounds the objection was declined; and they want to be provided with the applicants' full response to their objections. Only after that they will consider taking further action.
Campbell reported that the members of the Knysna Muslim Council informed her after the discussion that they've agreed with council not to have any amplified calls to prayer. They said that they would like to live in harmony with Knysna's entire community.
Campbell expressed the hope that the dispute could be resolved through dialogue among all parties and the finding of a satisfactory solution for everybody involved. Council's official announcement whether the development of the Islamic centre will go ahead or not, is expected today, May 28.
Click here for previous articles:
- A Mosque for Knysna
- Home owners against Mosque
- Knysna Mosque application submitted
- Update: Mosque still on the horizon
- Update: Plans to establish Mosque in Knysna
- Update: Mosque plans progress
ARTICLE: INGRID LEHMENSICH-BOTHA, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT.
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
