The Edmond City Council has rescheduled the vote for May 28
The city council’s vote on a proposed Islamic activity center has been delayed until the end of the month.
Members of the Islamic Society of Edmond asked that Monday’s agenda item be continued after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rescinded an offer to allow the society to use 14 parking spaces on a nearby property it owns.
The activity center would be a two-story structure with a 14-foot dome next to the mosque at 525 N University Drive.
The society’s plans to build the center were approved by the planning commission on May 7 despite a variety of objections, one of which was a lack of parking.
Planning Commissioner Bob Moore said the 14 extra spaces offered a solution to the problem.
Randel Shadid, attorney for the Islamic Society of Edmond, said the offer from the church was rescinded because the people who made the original agreement did not have the authority to do so. Shadid said he is now working with church officials in Salt Lake City to get permission to use the spaces.
Jan Larsen, Oklahoma City metro public affairs director, said she did not know who made the original offer or whether the society is working with church officials in Salt Lake City.
Shadid said he thinks he can work out an agreement with the church, but he asked for the council to postpone its vote because an agreement would not have been reached in time for Monday’s city council meeting.
He said he does not think this will put the project in jeopardy because the society has additional parking options should the agreement with the church fall through. The society owns property close to the proposed activity center that could be utilized for parking, he said.
The council’s vote on the project is set for May 28.