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Norwalk, Islamic Center Resolve Mosque Lawsuit

NORWALK, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Norwalk and an Islamic center have resolved a two-year-old lawsuit over construction of a mosque, with the city paying $2 million and promising to help find an alternate location for the mosque and meeting hall.

The Norwalk Common Council approved the plan Tuesday evening, WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported.

Norwalk, Islamic Center Resolve Mosque Lawsuit

Norwalk will pay litigation damages to Al Madany Islamic Center of Norwalk, buy Al Madany's site and help it find an alternative site.

Al Madany spokesman Farhan Memon called it a good outcome.

"The first step is to locate a site that meets our needs in order to worship, in order to congregate," Memon told Schneidau.

Memon said Muslims in the Norwalk area will continue to worship from the basement of a congregant's home until a mosque is built.

"As our community has grown to over 100 families, we need a place that can serve as a mosque for the entire community, and not someone's home," he said.

Council President Douglas E. Hempstead said council members balanced their fiduciary responsibilities to taxpayers and guarantees of freedom of religion.

Al Madany sued after the Zoning Commission rejected plans for a 27,000-square-foot building. Neighbors said it was too large for the West Norwalk site in a residential area and expressed concerns about traffic.

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(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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