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HIGH POINT (MCT) — The High Point Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended the approval of two zoning requests that could allow a new mosque to built in the city after a lengthy public hearing that included several testimonies of support and several in opposition to the requests.

Malik Hanif requested about 7 acres on the east side of Allen Jay Road be rezoned to build an Islamic worship center and educational facility.

According to Uzma Zaman, a spokesperson for the Islamic Center of High Point, the city's Muslim community has grown in recent years, and the two mosques that exist in the city — on Market Center Drive and Lexington Avenue — are too small.

Others said they were in favor of the request because the land is often used for illegal activities at night.

Surrounding neighbors opposed to the requests cited traffic and religious differences as major concerns.

"I've owned property on Ingram Road for 15 years, and I've seen it go downhill," Tommy Shipwash said when he addressed the commission. "I don't know if these people building it are those that are (Islamic) radicals, but I don't want it in my neighborhood. I'm sure you wouldn't want it in yours."

David Campbell, a resident of Allen Jay Road, said traffic created by the Islamic center in addition to school bus traffic from Allen Jay Elementary School could be a safety hazard. There also have been talks about re-opening the former Allen Jay Middle School as a charter school, he said.

The planning staff said a traffic analysis was not required because traffic from the Islamic center would not peak during the hours that school buses were en route.

Commission member Martha Shepherd said approving the requests was constitutional. "Right down the road (from the site) is the Fairfield Enrichment Center," she said. "A few blocks down is Allen Jay Baptist Church. I think our Constitution gives you freedom of religion. I'm glad that it gives us that."

The requests will go before the City Council at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 20.

The property is now zoned as residential multifamily district. The rezoning request is for conditional use public and institutional with an accompanying conditional-use permit pertaining to development standards and vehicular access. The city allows churches or places of worship in all residential zoning districts, but the public institution zoning does not have parcel size or access restrictions for a place of worship.