The Islamic Association of Northern Kentucky has operated a community center on the 1400 block of Garrard Street in Covington since 2011 — apparently in violation of the zoning code.
Owner Muhammad Ameen is now requesting a review by the board of adjustments that would allow the center to continue operating under a conditional approval.
In June, zoning specialist Andrew Juengling said that he received a complaint about religious assembly taking place at 1416 Garrard Street. Over the next few weeks, more concerns about the property and its use were expressed to Juengling, according to a staff report obtained by The River City News.Â
When Juengling reached out to Ameen, it was discovered that there were no permits on record for a use at that property, which sits in a residential neighborhood.
In July, a home occupation license was issued to the Islamic Association of Northern Kentucky, but it was noted that there were concerns that the building was being used as a religious assembly, and concerns continued to be expressed to City Hall that visitors and worshippers were frequenting the site. The City determined that the use no longer qualified as a home occupation, and a conditional use permit application was subitted.
“This is not a mosque or church. This is a learning center,” Ameen wrote in his applicaiton. The space is used, “To help learn and teach people of Islamic faith what God requires of us as human beings. To help all young and old to respect all human beings. To help our youth to be educated. To respect other human beings and respect for self and others.”
The Islamic Association of Northern Kentucky assists the York Street House (a halfway house in Newport) and Transition House (Greenup Street in Covington) with their prisoners.Â
According to Ameen, the center’s members number four, and they meet every Friday from 1:30 to 2:30. The Islamic Association has been in Covington for thirty years. “We help students to understand the faith,” Ameen said. “We assist the poor and needy, assist the old and young mentally and physically, if able.”
Along with his application, Ameen submitted sixteen signatures from neighbors indicating that they had no complaints about the Islamic Association’s presence.
The issue was expected to come to the board of adjustments in September but that meeting was canceled. The next board of adjustments meeting is scheduled for October 15. Juengling could not comment on the issue because it is an active case. In his report, however, the zoning specialist indicates that the site is not convenient for the public as it is located in the middle of single and two-family residential block with limited on-street parking.
While there are neighborhood commercial uses at intersections of the neighborhood, Juengling wrote, these uses are located within structures that were originally constructed for non-residential purposes. 1416 Garrard is historically residential in nature.
The center was established illegally because it never acquired the proper permits, Juengling wrote. Nearby neighbors have reportedly complained about the decrease in availability of on-street parking, traffic generation, hours of operation, and noise.Â
Juengling’s report recommends disapproval of the requested conditional use. The board of adjustments will decide whether to heed Juengling’s recommendation or allow the center to continue.
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-Michael Monks, editor & publisher
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