mosque

The Muslim Center of Somerset pray at the rented Redwood Inn in Bridgewater in this 2006 file photo.

(Ed Murray/Star-Ledger)

BRIDGEWATER — The planning board will resume hearings this month on a proposed mosque after a federal judge directed the township to reconsider the plans without a controversial ordinance limiting houses of worship in residential zones.

The Bridgewater Township Planning Board has scheduled four special hearings each to begin at 7 p.m. on Jan. 21, 22, 28 and 29 to discuss the Al Falah Center mosque proposal stalled while the township disputed a federal judge's decision requiring new hearings. The hearings will take place in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High school auditorium at 600 Garretson Road.

U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp on Jan. 6 rejected the township's motion to stay his Sept. 30 order to reconsider the mosque without the ordinance disallowing houses of worship in residential zones. BEGIN RELATED LINKS

CONNECT WITH US

• Follow us on Twitter



• Like us on Facebook



• NJ.com/somerset



The center submitted an application in January 2011

to renovate the former Redwood Inn on Mountain Top Road to be used as a mosque, but the township planner said that houses of worship in residential zones could cause traffic issues.

The Township Council in March 2011 adopted an ordinance limiting houses of worship, country clubs, and other specific uses to only major roads, requiring the center to seek a variance for the Mountain Top Road location.

The planning board dismissed the center's application in April 2011, so the center filed a lawsuit against the town later that month alleging discrimination on a religious basis.