We, the undersigned residents and stakeholders of Cavaillon Neighborhood on 12 Mile Creek Road in Weddington, respectfully urge the Weddington Town Council to deny the zoning that would allow the construction of a proposed religious temple at 7112 New Town Road. While we respect the rights of individuals and organizations to practice their faith, we believe this specific site poses significant risks and concerns for the surrounding community, as outlined below:

Traffic Safety Concerns

The proposed location is near a known dangerous intersection that has a history of frequent accidents and traffic congestion. The anticipated high volume of visitors due to multiple prayer times a day, would exacerbate these issues. Increased vehicular traffic at peak hours and on weekends poses serious risks to drivers, including school buses that already have a dangerous turn to navigate.

Increased traffic at key commuting times also affects our home values as people consider reasonable commute times when purchasing a home. 

Light Pollution from Parking Lots

The planned parking facilities for the religious institution include extensive lighting to accommodate nighttime events. While necessary for safety, this lighting will cause significant light pollution, negatively affecting nearby residences including our neighborhood, as well as houses along 12 Mile Creek, New Town Road and Aero Plantation. Bright, intrusive lighting will disrupt the natural ambiance of the neighborhood and impact the quality of life for residents. It will also directly affect the home values immediately surrounding the establishment as it creates a more city feel.

Noise Pollution

It is unclear if the organization plans to have outdoor speakers and sound systems for events, call to prayer and/or ceremonies. The amplified sound, combined with increased activity levels, will generate excessive noise, particularly during very early mornings when many people are sleeping or late evening hours. This will disturb the peace and quiet that residents currently enjoy and can affect our real estate value if regular loud noise occurs during normal peaceful hours.

Size/Height of Structures including Spires or Structural Elements atop a Building

It is unclear what the height of the building(s) would be and if it/they would be visible over the existing tree lines.  A large, tall building would create a city-like feel and impact the natural environment of our neighborhood.  Likewise, it is unclear the height of light structures with the existing tree line.

Environmental and Community Impact

The scale and frequency of events planned at the mosque—with potentially hundreds of attendees at a time—would place undue strain on local infrastructure, including roads and utilities. Additionally, the increased human and vehicular activity could disrupt local wildlife and green spaces.

 

Our Request

We respectfully request that the Weddington town council deny approval for the construction of this organization at the proposed location.  Should the council choose to consider the application we request there is no approval until the following is conducted:

- A comprehensive traffic impact study is conducted, including mitigation plans for congestion and safety risks.

- Measures are proposed to minimize light and noise pollution including clear times of days of activities, light, sound.

- Environmental study is conducted to understand what protected vegetation and/or animal life would be affected by the construction.

We, the undersigned, urge you to prioritize the safety, well-being, and quality of life of our community. Thank you for your attention to this matter.