Legal fight grows over plan for mosque
Wayne opposition group prepares court challenge
By: Philip DeVencentis
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
WAYNE- residents in a quiet neighborhood are mounting a a legal fight against a proposal for an Islamic temple as public hearings on the controversial plan spill into a third month.
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Nicholas Plama, an attorney from Clifton, introduced himself to the Zoning Board of Adjustment at a packed hearing on June 1. [2026]
..... His appearance was limited to questions of two expert witnesses who testified on behalf of Ipray House Incorporated a nonprofit hat wants to construct a 53.300-square-foot community center and mosque at 225 Colfax Road. The building would fit 468 prayer mats and include such amenities as an art museum, a cafe and a library.
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The 9.7-acre wooded property is in a residential zone, and houses of worship are conditionally permitted there.
..... Palma told the zoning broad that he was only recently contacted by the objectors. "I'm brand-new into this," he said. "I've just gotten into it."
..... Objectors have mobilized trough social media for weeks.
..... A Facebook group called Wake Up WAYNE NJ! was formed on May 6 [2026] to rally opposition around the mosque proposal, plus broader issues of over-development and wetlands encroachment in the 6th Ward. It launched an Online fundraiser to collect money for legal fees. garnering more than $3,800.
.... "Neighbors face serious flooding, traffic and environmental concerns on a county road that already can't handle peak hours," the objectors wrote on their crowdfunding page.
..... Meanwhile, the zoning board heard new testimony on June 1 [2026] from architect Karen Wenschhof, who said her mosque design features certain aspects to lessen tis visual effect on neighbors.
..... Wenschhof, a co-founder of The Natder Group of Hackettstown, said the monochromatic and soft tone of the mosque would be 'soothing" to observers. In addition, she said, the front of the building would have a smaller profit than the rear.
..... "There was an effort made in the design of this mosque to minimize the overall impact from the street," Wenschhof said.
..... The mosque would vary in height. From the roof line, it would measure 26 feet tall. But to the peak of its largest dome, the building would be 35 feet. There would be two minarets, or spires, reaching nearly 51 feet.
..... Minarets and other tower-like elements that are common among houses of worship - church belfries, for example -a re not subject to height restrictions in the municipal code.
..... The slender towers are traditionally used to call Muslim worshipers to prayer. However, Ipray House stipulated that there would be no prayer calls from its mosque and no loudspeakers installed outside of the building.
..... The next hearing on the applicaiton will be on July 6 at 730 PM. in the municipal courtroom, at 475 Valley Road. A civil engineer is expected to testify at that time.