Overflow crowd concerned about planned mosque and cemetery in Newton County

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. - It was an overflow crowd Tuesday night at the Newton County Board of Commissioners with the majority of people angry and upset over a proposed Muslim cemetery and mosque. Residents were furious the county's planning and zoning office approved the plans without public input.

There was a line stretching out the door and into the sidewalk at the historic Newton County Courthouse with residents upset about the plans for the 135 acres at Highway 162 and County Line Road.

“I'm hoping we won't have a huge mosque and everything else in our rural-urban community," said Christy Morgan, a Newton County resident who lives near the site.

County Manager Lloyd Kerr told the crowd under current zoning, the Newton County Planning and Zoning Board had no choice but to approve the place of worship plans for the Doraville-based nonprofit for a cemetery and potentially a future mosque. They were also told the plans haven't been submitted but once approved bulldozers could move in.

"Once plans are approved the county at that point would issue permits and of course construction would begin," said Kerr.

In the interim, County Commissioner John Douglas called for and was granted by the commission, a five week moratorium on places of worship, which isn't retroactive and doesn't affect plans for the cemetery and mosque.

He also revealed that the original plans for the cemetery and mosque were submitted under the name Avery Community Church and Cemetery. Commissioner Douglas told the crowd only a week ago was it revealed it was not Avery Community Church.

"Like I said you can call it anything you want to call it but you have to wonder why they picked that name," said Commissioner Douglas.

Residents like Beverly Collier said they felt deceived.

"And you thought? That it was going to be just another neighborhood community or possibly another non-denominational or Christian church," said Collier.

With so much public dissatisfaction the commission opted to hold a public hearing in a large enough venue on Monday August 22 to allow residents to have their voices heard, even though it's likely not going to change the outcome.

"That's why we have smart lawyers," said Commissioner Douglas when asked if the plans will move forward.

Board Chairman Keith Ellis told FOX 5 News the large public hearing will be held at a venue large enough to handle the Tuesday night overflow crowd. He said the people representing the mosque and cemetery are welcome to attend. They were not in attendance for Tuesday night's meeting.