A new place of worship for the area’s Islamic community must wait on a traffic study before having a chance of moving forward with the City of Bartlett.

On Monday, Oct. 2, the Bartlett Planning Commission voted unanimously to table a recommendation to the city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen for a special use permit until the landowners get a traffic study completed.

901 Hot Pot to expand current location, open second spot

The decision on the proposed mosque came after a spirited discussion regarding the location and its impact on the area. A mosque use is allowed under the city’s residential zoning with a special use permit.

Badrul Hossein and the Bartlett Muslim Society are seeking a church use for 8.2 acres on the east side of Broadway Road just north of the Ellendale five-way intersection.

The Bartlett Muslim Society currently has a congregation of 20 families and worships in a shopping center at 4210 Altruria Road in Bartlett.

“The place where we go is not large enough and doesn’t allow any activities at all. So (very) constricted,” Hossein said.

He expects that the proposed building could ultimately serve around 150 families.

Criswell retires, Bartlett appoints interim parks director

A conceptual site plan by the Bray Firm includes a 5,000-square-foot building that could be expanded with two more 5,000-square-foot sections into a 15,000-square-foot facility. Additionally, the plan calls for 165 parking spaces, a playground and a stormwater retention area.

“We want to be a positive impact in our community,” Hossein said, stressing that the worship space would have the most traffic before dawn and after dusk during the most recommended prayer times. He said the larger space will allow families to worship together. “It might be a very positive impact for our children especially.”

Residents and commissioners voiced concerns over the potential traffic that would occur near the nearby five-way intersection. Memphis-Arlington, Broadway, Centralia and Oak roads converge at one point, compounded by a railroad crossing in the middle of the junction.

Commissioner and Alderman Jack Young wondered why the landowner clear-cut the acreage after purchasing it without having a detailed plan.

“There couldn’t be a worse intersection in Bartlett to try to place a place of worship with a (large) parking lot,” he said.

State officials share success stories at Bartlett Chamber luncheon

Resident Charlie Goforth voiced concerns about the project.

“Any change that’s going to intensify the amount of traffic, we’re against,” he said. “We’re not against any churches, but this location is what we’re against.”

He also pointed out that the area regularly floods during heavy rains.

“The traffic study, I think, will help a lot. I think it will answer a lot of questions,” Commissioner Jay Caughman said. “The infrastructure looks to be a challenge ... both sewer (and) drainage.”

Army veteran and Bartlett resident Brittany Whitehead spoke in favor of the project. She served in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Syria.

“At no point did I have to travel as long as these folks are having to travel to exercise my Christian faith,” she said. “I would find it deeply disappointing to come home to the United States of America and have a municipality stop my fellow American citizens from being able to act in the free exercise of their religious faith. I would be heartbroken.”

Some Bartlett officials revisit idea of utility collective for suburbs

She cautioned Bartlett officials to look at Horn Lake and the amount of money they had to spend defending a losing case involving the construction of a mosque.

If ultimately approved by the Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the developer would then need to come back to the planning commission with a site plan.