APOPKA, Fla. – The Apopka Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously voted to grant access for the construction of a new mosque in its downtown area.
The proposal received a mix of reactions from the community.
The city’s planning commission discussed whether to give a special exception use permit to the Muslim Community Center of Apopka for the construction of a new mosque, located at 458 Oakland Avenue, that would be over 6,000-square-feet.
As of now, the property is zoned as mixed use downtown and the single-story building of MCCA is on the property.
Erika Simmons lives beside the center and says she wouldn’t mind the new mosque after talking with some of the people in charge at MCCA.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
“He (a man at MCCA) and I have actually discussed what he was going to do with the property line to keep everyone comfortable. He is a very respectful and kind neighbor,” Simmons said.
Online, multiple people said they didn’t want the mosque, including a man we spoke with who lives in the area but didn’t want to go on camera.
One couple says they may disagree when it comes to religion but not the building.
“I don’t believe in their God. I’ll be honest there’s only one true God, Jesus Christ, but they have the right to believe in their own religion,” they said.
Down the street from Simmons lives a man who said as long as the community is quiet, he doesn’t mind.
“They have never been a problem to me, so I guess it’s OK,” he said.