Cemetery gets council approval
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on May 3, 2016 1:46 PM
The Goldsboro City Council unanimously approved a rezoning request by the Islamic Center of Goldsboro that will allow for a cemetery to be built on its property at 506 Fedelon Trail.
District 1 council member Antonio Williams made the motion Monday night to approve the rezoning request for the cemetery, and District 4 council member Bevan Foster seconded the motion.
Williams' motion came at the end of a prepared statement, which he read to the audience that was filled with both supporters and opponents of the measure.
"After researching all the facts and listening to all in favor and opposed to, and personally visiting the proposed site, it is my decision to support the approval of the Islamic Center of Goldsboro's request to construct a cemetery on their private grounds," Williams said. "I believe that Dr. (Muhammad) Bhatti has adequately expressed his desire to work with his surrounding neighbors and community to ensure that the cemetery does not encroach on the properties surrounding the site. Also, after visiting the Islamic Center, speaking further with the imam and getting a better understanding of the proposed site, I am fully convinced that the location of the burial plot is not in the sight line of the surrounding properties, and will have no effect on property values or each individual's view from their residence, since the cemetery will be surrounded by a 75 meter perimeter of tall trees and foliage, and will be further hidden from surrounding properties by a tall fence and an additional tree line," Williams said, referencing site modifications approved by the city with the rezoning request that will allow for the concealment of the cemetery from nearby property owners.
Williams said he understood the proposal, which has been a subject of debate for nearly a year, was an emotional matter for both the Islamic Center of Goldsboro and the neighbors of the center living on Fedelon Trail.
"I would like to remind everyone that at the heart of this issue is the desire for the Muslim members of our community to have the opportunity to bury their loved ones close to them with dignity and respect," Williams said.
Following the vote to approve the rezoning request that will allow the Islamic Center of Goldsboro to build its own cemetery, the nearly 20 members of the center in attendance Monday night cheered and applauded the council's decision.
But William Pearman, a resident of Fedelon Trail who has vehemently opposed the rezoning since it first appeared before the council in July 2015, raised his hand following the vote.
When he was not recognized by the council, Pearman shouted, "Hey!" at the council members to get their attention.
Mayor Chuck Allen responded by saying, "Sir, you can't interrupt the meeting, I'm sorry."
Shortly after this exchange, Pearman left.
The rezoning request for the cemetery first appeared before the council in the form of a public hearing in July 2015, and continued to be a controversial issue throughout the back end of 2015 with several neighbors of the Islamic Center of Goldsboro voicing their opposition to the matter.
The City Council delayed its vote on the rezoning request -- once in August 2015 and again in September 2015 -- before the Islamic Center of Goldsboro submitted a letter in October 2015 asking for its rezoning request to be withdrawn.
The council that first heard the rezoning request for the cemetery was a different City Council than the current one, with four new members residing on the new council.