By Angela Hatton
Mayfield, KY – The Mayfield city planner says a Muslim Somali group has thirty days to appeal a rejected permit for a Mosque in the city's downtown. Brad Rodgers says officials are drafting a letter to send to group representatives. They also plan to talk face to face. In a public meeting Tuesday, board member Richard Wright cited state zoning statute as the reason for denying the request.
"Before a variance is granted, the board must find the granting of the variance will not adversely affect the public health, safety, or welfare. It will not alter the essential character of the general vicinity, it will not cause a hazard or nuisance to the public."
Local business owners said that there was not sufficient parking space to share with the mosque. A representative for the Somali Muslim group attempted to attend the meeting. He was turned away at the door because of capacity limits. Later attempts to find him during the meeting were unsuccessful. Rodgers says an appeal of the board decision would go through Circuit Court.