Muslim cemetery proposed as an ‘as of right’ use, despite resident concerns

The Town of Brookhaven recently received a proposal for the development of an over 13-acre Muslim cemetery to be built on Beaver Dam Road in Bellport. The lot is currently vacant.

The Suffolk County Legislature, after originally tabling the vote due to “minor inaccuracies” in the application, passed it through on Tuesday, May 12 as a certificate of necessity pending town approval. The town can now vote on the proposal, which according to supervisor Dan Panico will happen later tonight on Thursday, May 14.

“I anticipate a vote on the proposed cemetery tonight," he said. "The proposed natural vegetated buffers will be increased by 60% on the west side and a 100 foot natural and undisturbed will be covenanted for the four properties off of Bellhaven in exceedance of New York State and Suffolk County health department standards.”

“The supervisor and I, along with the town board, are working with our planning and environmental land management team and our law department on the overall site plan and the reasonable issues raised at the hearing, and in the days that followed,” said Councilman Michael Loguercio. “Now that the county has decided unanimously to send the approval to the town board, we are able to make a decision.”

According to Legis. Dominick Thorne, the county’s role in this application was solely administrative. He also said the original inaccuracies included the wrong road names labeled in the proposal.

The cemetery is being proposed by the Hillside Islamic Center as an up to 12,000-square-foot plot development exclusively for Muslims.

About a dozen residents during the Brookhaven Town public hearing held last month both expressed concerns over potential drinking water contamination due to the use of chemicals as well as a few (about four) in support of the development as a growing need for the Muslim community. However, they do not embalm.

One Bellport resident against the project, Anthony Petillo, said his concern is not just the usage of chemicals like embalmment fluids, but more so the human remains contamination in the water well.

“The fact is the slope of this property flows directly into the Mott Creek watershed property, approximately 300 feet wide by a half mile long, and the last time I checked, water runs downhill,” he wrote in an email. “There is no denying the slope of that property empties into the Mott Creek watershed. This watershed provides water for the use of myself and my family.”

He said his concern is the town is willing to chance to “poison” his family and the community.

“People are saying this is anti-[Muslim], but this has nothing to do with religion; it’s about our public water,” he added.

He said the current proposal for a cemetery at this location was the first time this site was the subject of a multi-year application by Rolling Hills of Bellport, which was ultimately denied by the town because of the nature of the Superfund site.

The court upheld the town’s rejection, affirming that the municipality had a “rational basis” for denial due to concerns over community character and environmental sensitivity. The property, at that time, was linked to the legacy of the Bellport Laundry contamination. Though there is no further action required on the site, it provided a significant barrier to development.

“How can the Town of Brookhaven not care about their own community who already occupy the surrounding properties?” he questioned. “Surely, there must be some other location that won’t jeopardize the health of my family.”

According to Loguercio, the development would be an “as of right” use in the A1 zoning, and would be located in an area capable of the development of up to 50 homes.

The proposal also shows a structure to be used as an area for only a single prayer service prior to burials, Loguercio said.

According to the National Library of Medicine, Muslims are always buried, never cremated. Additionally, it is a religious requirement that the body be ritually washed and draped before burial, which should be as soon as possible after death.

During a Muslim funeral service, the deceased is taken to the cemetery for burial and traditionally, only men are allowed to attend the burial, though some Muslim communities may allow women to attend.

The grave must be at the right angles to the direction of Mecca, with the deceased placed on their right side facing the Islamic holy city. Wood and stones should be placed on top of the body to prevent direct contact between the person and the soil. All mourners will pour handfuls of earth on top of the grave, before it is filled in.