Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Town of Hempstead Board of Appeals has reserved its decision on an application by the Islamic Center of Nassau in Wantagh after a tense public hearing that lasted more than six hours and drew over 200 people to Hempstead Town Hall on Dec. 3.
Mohammad Ali, a mosque trustee, presented the center’s application to the board, requesting approval to relocate a six-foot-tall fence on the property and to maintain on-site storage of two HVAC units and a commercial trailer.
The property at 2856 Jerusalem Ave. is located on the southwest corner of Oakfield Avenue and is zoned Residence B, which generally limits such uses.
Ali argued that the current placement of the fence creates a “significant safety and security risk,” especially for members attending services and activities at the center.
“For the last four years,” Ali told the board, “our congregation has lived with a level of hostility and fear that no religious community anywhere in this town should ever have to endure.”
According to the zoning application, the Islamic Center is seeking a use variance to allow storage of commercial mechanical equipment and a trailer on the residentially zoned lot. The application also requests side and rear yard variances, and approval to install a six-foot-high fence in front of the building line on Oakfield Avenue — a location that, according to town zoning rules, may obstruct the line of sight at a neighboring driveway.
The mosque offers prayer services, religious functions, spiritual guidance and counseling, children’s activities, and serves as a general community center for Muslims of the area.
Ali said that since acquiring the property almost five years ago, the center’s congregation has faced repeated incidents of harassment and trespassing.
“There’s been dumping of beer bottles and trash onto the property,” he said. “Trespassers have entered the premises, including individuals who made videos while inside. Children have tripped and have fallen.”
The Town of Hempstead landmarked the building in 2019, recognizing its historic significance as the former home of St. Matthias’ Episcopal Church.
Built in 1904, the church was founded by members of the “Brush” community — composed of freed African American slaves, Native Americans, and their families. The Episcopal Diocese oversaw the church from 1994 until 2009, when services ended abruptly due to poor attendance. The Islamic Center acquired the long-vacant building in 2021.
Throughout his presentation, Ali was repeatedly interrupted by outbursts from the crowd, including an obscenity, a racial slur, and an anti-Muslim comment. John Ragano, chairman of the Board of Appeals, warned attendees that continued disruptions would result in removal by public safety officers. Despite repeated interruptions, no one was removed from the hearing.
Dozens of residents spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, with the majority expressing opposition to the application. Many raised concerns about traffic congestion and whether the proposed changes fit the residential character of the neighborhood.
“It is very difficult to get in and out of town on Jerusalem Avenue,” Robert Seeman, a litigator from Bellmore, said. “The traffic in that area now is so bad. It’s so hard to get in and out of that area now.”
The Town of Hempstead’s zoning code allows six-foot-high fences in rear and side yards in Residence B districts. However, when a fence extends forward of a building line near a roadway, regulations may require a “clear sight triangle” — a 20-foot visibility buffer to avoid obstructing views for drivers turning in or out of driveways.
The meeting began at 2 p.m. and ended after 8 p.m. In an emailed statement to the Herald, Patrick Owens, secretary to the Board of Appeals, confirmed that the board had not reached a decision.
“The Board of Appeals, which is an independent zoning board separate and apart from the Hempstead Town Board, reserved decision regarding the application for a variance,” Owens wrote on Dec. 4. “There is no scheduled date for a decision at this time.”
