Support East Blaine Mosque and Academy

Take Action: Support East Blaine Mosque and Academy

Join us in advocating for the rezoning proposal that will allow the East Blaine Mosque and Academy to open, providing essential educational and religious services to our community. This initiative seeks to enhance Blaine's cultural and educational landscape by introducing a dedicated space for our Muslim residents.

Update ; Planning Commission unanimously passed the rezoning request at its May 14th meeting

Action Steps:

1. Send email to City Council and Mayor see below for aciton

2. Attend City Council meeting on Monday 17th June 6:30pm

Blaine City Hall, Council Chambers
10801 Town Square Drive NE
Blaine, MN 55449

Backgrounder:

East Blaine Mosque and Academy, a nonprofit organization, has acquired the former Minnesota School of Business building in Blaine with plans to transform it into a Mosque and Academy. The building, which has been vacant since 2017, will host a mosque on the first floor and a private school for kindergarten through eighth grade on the upper floors.

The East Blaine Mosque is designed to accommodate over 300 worshippers, providing plenty of room to meet community needs. The facility includes adequate parking, ensuring easy access for attendees. Worship times are scheduled to avoid peak traffic hours, minimizing any potential disruption to local traffic flows.

The Preschool/K-8 School, initially offering grades K-2 with plans to expand each year up to eighth grade, beginning in September 2024. As the school grows, it will cater to increasing student numbers each academic year. The site includes ample parking to facilitate an efficient drop-off and pick-up process, designed to avoid significant impacts on local traffic. School operations are planned from approximately 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with well-organized vehicular movement to ensure a smooth start and end to the school day.

On May 14th the Planning Commision Unansomsly passed resoltuion for rezoning and forward it to the city council.

Strartibune Article: Blaine Islamic school, mosque gets planning commission's OK

Strartibune Article: Nonprofit group wants to transform an empty Blaine building into Islamic school and mosque

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Dear [elected official],

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I am writing to express my strong support for the rezoning proposal submitted by the East Blaine Mosque and Academy. This project is an exciting development for our community, and it would be wonderful for the City Council to support the request to rezone, allowing for a private Islamic school and mosque.

The Planning Commission unanimously passed the rezoning request at its May 14th meeting, demonstrating alignment with the planning considerations for this request. They recognized the similarity of the uses allowed, noting that the only missing component was the school use, and observed that other similar projects have also been approved.

This proposal is timely and necessary to meet the growing needs of our community. Blaine currently hosts only one mosque, MAS Blaine Masjid, which struggles to accommodate the number of worshippers and lacks a private Islamic school. This situation highlights a significant need for additional facilities.

Moreover, Blaine is home to nearly thirty Christian churches and several Christian K-8 schools, such as Northside Christian School, Avail Academy, and Way of the Shepherd, which serve a considerable portion of our community. In contrast, Muslim residents lack dedicated religious educational institutions. Given that Muslims have been integral to Minnesota's community fabric, it is essential to support their needs equitably.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations reports that over 90% of mosque and private Islamic school zoning requests in Minnesota face unfair, religiously intolerant opposition. This statistic is troubling and highlights a broader issue of inequality that must be addressed directly. Supporting the East Blaine Mosque and Academy would demonstrate the Blaine City Council’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive community.

Educational institutions play a critical role in community development. The city’s Planned Business District (PBD) zoning currently accommodates a variety of similar uses, including daycares and places of worship. However, it lacks provisions for an elementary educational facility, which is a crucial component of any well-rounded community.

Reflecting on the foundational elements of thriving communities throughout U.S. history, the pairing of educational and religious institutions has always been vital. From the classic depiction in 'Little House on the Prairie' to modern urban settings, a community’s vitality often hinges on the presence of both schools and places of worship. The East Blaine Mosque and Academy represents a modern interpretation of this historical pairing, enhancing both the educational and cultural landscape of our city. The mosque also plans to engage with other faiths in interfaith programming, fostering a more cohesive community in Blaine and beyond.

This proposal addresses a significant gap in our community’s infrastructure by providing a dedicated educational institution for Muslim residents. The introduction of the East Blaine Mosque and Academy is essential for fostering an inclusive environment where all community members can thrive.

I strongly advocate for the mayor and council to recognize the value of this proposal and support the rezoning to make this vision a reality.

Thank you,

Sincerely, [Your information here]