Lilburn leaders to vote on mosque plan Wednesday

By Shane Blatt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The battle over a proposed mosque in Lilburn picks up steam again this week, as city leaders are expected to vote on the rezoning request by a local Muslim congregation.

The Lilburn City Council's decision on Wednesday would come almost a week after the Planning Commission unanimously recommended rejecting the request for a 20,000-square-foot mosque, cemetery and gymnasium on about 8 acres of land at U.S. 29 and Hood Road.

The congregation already owns and worships on 1.4 acres of that land.

Some neighborhood residents say the mosque would pose traffic, noise and parking problems. But members of the local congregation of Dar-E-Abbas, who also live in Lilburn, say they've outgrown their two 2,000-square-foot buildings on the property and need the additional space to accommodate the city's growing Muslim population.

Doug Dillard, the congregation's attorney, says if the city rejects the plans, "our recommendation would be to file a lawsuit."

The council will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center.