Lino Lakes panel backs 1-year delay on mosque housing development

The Lino Lakes Planning and Zoning board voted Monday night to recommend a one-year moratorium for a large-scale housing development with a mosque that has generated strong local opposition.

The vote by the planning board was unanimous, but the moratorium must be approved by the Lino Lakes City Council in order to take effect.

The vote came after more than three hours of public testimony about the proposed Madinah Lakes development. About 200 people filled City Hall and watched from inside the Lino Lakes City Council chambers — which was capped at 90 people — or in a side room that had a livestream.

The Madinah Lakes project has created a divide at recent City Council meetings.

The development would be built on 156 acres of what had been the Robinson Sod farm, at 310 Main St. Plans call for the mosque to take up about 10 acres, with the rest used for homes and a commercial corridor with restaurants, coffee shops and more.

Supporters of the project allege that the development is being treated unfairly because it includes a mosque. They have accused opponents of Islamophobia.

The opponents reject the anti-Muslim claims, and say they are against the project because of the strain the housing project will put on the local water system, the influx of traffic it will bring, and the burden it would put on the school system.

The seven board members — who are appointed by the Lino Lakes City Council — mostly spoke in favor of a delay and agreed with some concerns, such as whether the development could put too great a strain on well water supply.

Board Chair Michael Root said he supports the moratorium, but he and others noted that the temporary ban on the project applies only to the housing component. He said moratoriums have been a “good thing for us in the past.”

“I would support that the region cover all the residential areas with the exception of where the proposed mosque and commercial area next to it is,” Root said.

The meeting included occasional shouting matches between opponents and supporters of the project. At several points, Root instructed speakers to not bring up allegations of Islamophobia as a reason for the proposed moratorium, saying comments needed to be directly related to the proposal. He also had to instruct the crowd not to interrupt the speakers.

Faraaz Yussuf, owner of project developer Zikar Holdings, said he was disappointed by the vote but is determined to complete the project.

“It’s unfortunate, but we’ll continue to find a path forward,” he said.

He said he saw a “silver lining” in the board recommending a different type of environmental assessment that could reduce how long it takes before developers can build after the moratorium. But Yussuf and owners of the sod farm said they are concerned the city will try to continue to delay the project beyond a one-year pause.

“There’s avenues for the city to drag it on, and that’s what we’re worried about,” Yussuf said.

The meeting included a mixture of opponents and supporters, but most who made it inside the chambers were against the project and held signs reading “Slow the grow.” The moratorium will first come before the full council on June 24, with a second and final vote possible as early as July 8.