Islamic cemetery again before council
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on April 17, 2016 1:45 AM
A rezoning request from the Islamic Center of Goldsboro to construct a private cemetery will reappear in front of the Goldsboro City Council Monday night when another public hearing will be held on the matter after the vote was canceled at the request of the center in October 2015.
The cemetery would be constructed on the Islamic Center of Goldsboro's own property at 506 Fedelon Trail. When the issue first appeared in front of the City Council in July 2015, the proposal drew opposition from people who live near the center.
Critics of the measure said at the time they were fearful the cemetery would cause property values to drop and their well water quality would be negatively affected due to embalming fluid.
But Muslims do not use embalming fluid, and bury dead bodies within three days of the person's death. Caskets are also not traditionally used, but the bodies are wrapped in a linen cloth.
Supporters of the proposal said at the time the critics were not truly concerned with depreciating property values or contaminated ground water, but were discriminating against the right of Muslims to have their own private cemetery.
According to North Carolina burial laws embalming dead bodies is not required, caskets or vaults are also not required unless designated by the private cemetery, and burials on private property are not prohibited.
After several delays by the council on voting on the proposal, Dr. Muhammad Bhatti filed a letter on behalf of the Islamic Center of Goldsboro requesting the vote be withdrawn in October 2015.
There will be no action taken by the City Council immediately following the public hearing Monday night, and the city planning commission will return a recommendation on the matter to the council at its May 2 meeting.
There will be four more public hearings Monday night following the hearing on the rezoning request from the Islamic Center of Goldsboro.
Reginald White Jr. is requesting a conditional use permit from the city to operate an events center with ABC permits on the east side of U.S. 117 South between Old Mount Olive Highway and the Neuse River.
The center is proposed to be used for corporate events, private functions, birthday parties and more.
Hours the center will operate will vary, but events will not extend beyond 2 a.m. for night time activities.
A business in the making on the west side of North John Street and East Mulberry Street -- Goldsboro Brew Works -- is requesting a conditional use permit from the city to operate a place of entertainment with ABC permits that would consist of retail sales, a taproom and brewery.
Three units near the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp.'s office are being renovated for the business. One unit will be used as a taproom with a bar and seating area, one unit will be used for retail sales and the third unit will be used as office space.
The applicant has also proposed potentially developing a brewery at the location in the future, as well as apartments above the business.
Wooten Development has requested a conditional use permit from the city for the operation of retail businesses on the southwest corner of U.S. 117 South and Vann Street.
Permits have previously been approved for the location for used car lot and weekend flea market, and Wooten Development wishes to add the allowance of storage building sales on the property to increase the chance of a steady tenant renting out the property.
Lastly, the city will hold its annual action plan public hearing to allow citizens the chance to express their concerns regarding housing and non-housing needs that exist in Goldsboro.
The annual action plan is a set of strategic documents used by the city to provide detailed information on proposed activities and projects that will maximize the benefit of Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds for low-to-moderate income people living in the city.
The city anticipates receiving $312,836 in CGBD funds and $158,776 in HOME funds from the federal government on July 1. In order to be eligible, the city must allow public input on how the funds should be used, which is why the public hearing is being held.
There will be no action taken on these issues by the City Council immediately following the public hearings Monday night, and the city planning commission will return recommendations on the issues to the council at its May 2 meeting.