Proposed Mosque in Upper Saddle River Sparks Local Debate Ahead of Planning Board Meeting
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
A new zoning application to establish a Muslim place of worship in Upper Saddle River has captured the attention of local residents. The proposal, submitted by the Jersey City-based Islamic center Markazi Sunni Rizvi Jamia Masjid, seeks to convert a historic borough property into a local mosque.
The Upper Saddle River Planning Board is scheduled to review the application on June 10, starting with a closed session to receive legal advice.
From Historic Church to Cultural Center to Proposed Mosque
The property at 305 W. Saddle River Road carries a deep local history. Originally built in 1842 as the Saddle River Methodist Church, the structure was transformed into a nonprofit cultural center in 1982. For decades, it served the community as a hub for art shows, theatrical presentations, and concerts.
Under the new proposal signed by organization president Muhammad Shahid, the 0.65-acre site would undergo several key renovations to transition from a cultural center into an active house of worship.
The Details: Requested Variances and Building Upgrades
According to an official review letter by Borough Engineer Nicki Louloudis, houses of worship are permitted in this residential zone as a conditional use. However, the applicant is seeking specific waivers and variances to accommodate the building’s new purpose:
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Architectural Changes: The plan outlines interior and exterior improvements, including bathroom upgrades, an improved access ramp, and landscaping. Notably, the building’s existing steeple cross would be replaced with a minaret.
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Impervious Coverage Variance: The borough allows a maximum of 30% impervious coverage. The property currently sits at a non-conforming 34.3%. The proposal requests an increase to 37.6% (adding 1,039 square feet) for parking and driveway adjustments.
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Traffic & Parking Waives: The applicant has requested a waiver to use 14 on-site parking stalls measuring 9’x18′ (where 10’x20′ is standard), alongside a slightly narrower drive aisle. Because the building lists a 19-person worship capacity, the borough engineer noted that the immediate traffic impact appears minor.
Community Response: Over 600 Residents Sign Petition
While the technical traffic impact is projected to be small, the application has met with pushback from nearby homeowners. A local petition has garnered nearly 600 signatures from residents calling on the Planning Board to deny the variances.
Opponents cite concerns regarding neighborhood character, stormwater management due to the increased coverage, noise, and potential overflow parking issues. The petition organizers argue that any development on the site should strictly comply with current zoning standards without special exemptions.
A Context of Religious Land Use in Bergen County
This is not Upper Saddle River’s first high-profile zoning and religious land-use discussion. In 2018, Upper Saddle River, Mahwah, and Montvale were involved in a successful federal lawsuit brought by the Bergen Rockland Eruv Association regarding the installation of eruvs on public utility poles. The legal settlement resulted in Upper Saddle River paying $75,000 in legal fees and allowing the extensions.
Currently, the closest houses of worship for the local Muslim community are the Mosque of the Jerrahl Order in Chestnut Ridge, NY (four miles away), and the El-Zahra Islamic Center in Midland Park, NJ (six miles away).
The community awaits the Planning Board’s upcoming session to see how the borough will balance local zoning laws, resident feedback, and religious land-use protections.
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I wouldn’t want to build a house of worship around hundreds of religious bigots but my Muslim brothers are more tolerant than I am.