By Angela Hatton
Mayfield, KY – The Mayfield zoning board has denied a conditional use permit for a mosque in the city's downtown. The motion passed 4-0 with one board member absent. The board cited violation of state zoning statute 100, in denying the permit. The statute states that the permitted site cannot pose a risk to public safety and health. Business owners worried there would not be enough parking to share between the mosque and neighboring businesses. Board member Don Simpkins voiced concern before voting to deny the permit.
"The past precedence that we've sat we've set, have to deal with conditional use for churches, and we've done it several locations in town already."
This is the first conditional use permit the board has denied. A representative for the Somali Muslim group that submitted the application was not at the meeting. He was turned away at the door because of capacity limits, and later attempts to find him during the meeting were unsuccessful. Over 100 Mayfield residents turned out at the meeting.