Zoning Board Approves Granada Hills Mosque But Limits Worshipers

A Los Angeles city zoning panel Tuesday approved construction of a mosque in Granada Hills but imposed a record number of conditions, including limits on worshipers and on how they travel to services.

With Councilman Hal Bernson shifting from opposition to neutrality on the project, the Board of Zoning Appeals voted 3 to 1 to limit worshipers at the major Friday afternoon service to 250--300 fewer than the congregation, the Islamic Center of Northridge, had wanted.

The board also limited the center to 80 parking spaces and required it to provide shuttle-bus service for members. In all, the board imposed more than 60 conditions, “a new record in the city,” said Jon Perica, associate zoning administrator.

The board’s ruling drew complaints from both sides. Neighbors said the project, near the corner of Rinaldi Street and Encino Avenue, still would inundate their neighborhood with traffic. Islamic Center representatives complained that the conditions were overly harsh. Both sides said they were considering an appeal to the City Council.

Meanwhile, Bernson, who represents the area and had unequivocally opposed construction of the mosque in an April 24 letter to the board, said Tuesday that he is now neutral. The letter was a mistake, he said. Bernson did not appear before the board.

Several Muslims said the project was hamstrung by prejudices and ethnic stereotyping. Salam Al-Marayati, director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council of Los Angeles, complained to the board of “fears and misconceptions . . . that we are terrorists, alien invaders.”

“Thanks to the TV and the media, our image is not so good,” said Yahia Rahman, a financial consultant.

Foes of the project denied bias. They oppose traffic that would be generated by the proposed mosque, said Dennis Gonzales, an attorney leading the opposition. The area already has half a dozen schools and churches, he said.

Perica noted, however, that the neighbors have not opposed a proposal to expand the Hillcrest Christian Church, a fundamentalist facility with a school at the northeast corner of Rinaldi Street and Encino Avenue. “I’m not going to draw any conclusions about what that means,” he added.