Syracuse Landmarks Preservation Board Public Hearing on Islamic Society Expansion, May 14, 2026

The Syracuse Landmarks Preservation Board held a public hearing on May 14, 2026, to consider a certificate of appropriateness for a proposed expansion of the Islamic Society of Central New York’s mosque at 1515 Comstock Avenue in the Berkeley Park Historic District. The proposal included a 3,600-square-foot addition, expanded parking from 22 to 27 spaces, a 40-foot dome, and significant paving and tree removal. The board heard extensive testimony from the applicant and from neighbors in opposition, then voted to hold the application open pending additional information.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Applicant’s Presentation (Ed Kaplinger, site planner; Ben Larson, architect): Described the scope: a 3,600-square-foot addition, one-way circulation, expanded parking to 27 spaces (zoning requires 67), lot coverage of 38–39% (max 20%), and a six-foot fence with landscaping. The addition would be under height limits, use similar materials, and be largely screened by existing trees. The applicant stated the need for a proper funeral service facility, as the current building cannot accommodate women and seniors. Friday prayers have been moved to a new site in Jamesville, but funerals must remain at Comstock due to religious requirements for immediate burial and historic connection to the adjacent cemetery.
• Speakers in Favor (Mohammed, president of Islamic Society; Abdulaziz Shifa, faculty at Syracuse University; Mohammed Qater, longtime member): Emphasized the historical significance of the mosque as the first in Syracuse, its community service role, and the critical need for a dignified funeral space. They noted that the expansion is solely for funerals, not for weekly prayers, and that the community is working to shift Friday attendance to the Jamesville site. They expressed openness to modification and pledged to address neighbor concerns about rats, lights, and dumpster noise.
• Speakers in Opposition (seven neighbors, including Deborah Bandolin, Rex Jardine, Jody Upton, Mike Stanton, Stephanie Bartling, Don Peters, Chris Capella Peters, Matt Kisling, Gary Engelhart, and others): Raised numerous concerns: the building’s mass and scale would dwarf adjacent historic homes, the 40-foot dome would loom over backyards, the loss of 18+ old-growth trees and vegetation would destroy privacy and noise mitigation, and the proposed paving (40% lot coverage) would turn the site into a parking lot, eroding the historic district’s park-like character. They cited traffic and parking chaos on Fridays (300–400 cars on neighborhood streets), safety hazards, stormwater runoff, light intrusion, noise, and precedent of unapproved expansions. Many noted that the mosque has already outgrown the site, that the Jamesville property could accommodate cemetery and funeral needs, and that the current plan violates the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation. Several neighbors acknowledged positive relations with the mosque but urged rejection of the current proposal or a scaled-back version.

Discussion Items

• Board members discussed the volume of public opposition, noting it was unprecedented in their experience. They identified scale, massing, lot coverage, and tree removal as primary concerns. One member questioned whether a smaller addition (e.g., an elevator) was considered. The applicant’s president responded that the expansion is necessary for women’s comfort and funeral services but expressed willingness to scale back and work with neighbors.
• Board member Kate Oeter requested a photo montage or streetscape elevation to better assess the building’s massing relative to the district. The applicant agreed to provide that.
• The board clarified that the public hearing remains open, and the public will have opportunity to respond to revised proposals.

Key Outcomes

• The board voted to hold the application open pending additional information from the applicant. The motion carried with two abstentions (Nicole Fragnito and Julia Marshall).
• The board directed staff to communicate specific concerns to the applicant: scale, massing, lot coverage, tree preservation, lighting, and the need for visual context (photo montage).
• The public hearing remains open; future revisions will be subject to further public comment.
• No decision on the certificate of appropriateness was made.