The expansion project is at the Planned Development phase. It's not just for the Masjid Expansion but for the development of the entire area surrounding the Masjid.

For Planned Development (PD), the approval process is the following:
1. Design and Review Committee (DRC) public meeting approval.
2. Planning and Zoning Commission (P&ZC) public meeting approval.
3. Board of County Commissioners (BCC) public Hearing final approval.

On June 11, 2014 we had our 2nd DRC public meeting. The 1st meeting was held at the beginning of the filling of the PD project last year. In the 1st DRC meeting they agreed to the size of the new Masjid to be (18000 sq feet) and the concept of High school and the Community Center.

Over last many months we submitted Technical details to the DRC. That includes Masjid's building height, height of Minarets, width and length of Masjid, parking spaces and traffic report, water drainage system, frequency of outdoor events and submitted answers to dozens of questions of the DRC staff. This is a normal process for PD approval.

Two issues were raised in this DRC meeting:
1) How to vacate the county maintained Ruby Lake Road and to create a north bound exit from 4th street to Apopka Vineland road.
2) Do we need to vacate the alleyways and commercial street separately or should it be done as part of the PD. (we were told in our first meeting with DRC that it is vacated as part of PD)

On Friday June 13, 2014, we met with the person in-charge of vacating and two other senior officials and they confirmed the vacating of the streets except paved roads should be part of the PD.

On Monday June 16, 2014, we met with the engineer in-charge and four of his staff members who had objections for vacating Ruby Lake Road on June 11, 2014 meeting. They may now allow the vacating of the streets as part of PD except Ruby Lake Road. The staff is going to resolve the conflict of Ruby Lake Road and 4th street, and see how we can get a North bound exit from 4th street.

If we do not pursue the 4th street exit, then our project can move quickly to P&ZC public meeting. However, 4th street north exit will considerably ease the traffic problems on Fridays and and on Special days.

If the above sounds complicated to you, actually, it is. In the meetings they go over technical details and I tried to simplify it for you.

Please make dua to Allah (SWT) for the resolution of the issues.
Jazak Allah

Ijaz Ahmed, Project Manager