Muslims say they need more burial space. Zoning board rejects Redland cemetery request
A proposal to build a cemetery for Muslims in South Miami-Dade County was rejected by a community zoning appeals board late Thursday evening after hours of public comments.
The request came from a nearby Islamic center, Masjid ul Mumineem, which was seeking to convert the mosque’s seven acres of land in the Redland area to a cemetery designed to serve the specific burial needs of the Muslim population in South Florida.
“Our sole intention is to create a Muslim cemetery and serve the growing South Florida Muslim community,” said Mohammad Bhuiyam, one of the applicants and a board director of the mosque. “This is about serving families in their time of need.”
Supporters argued there was a pressing need for another cemetery dedicated to Muslim burial practices, with only one other operation located in Hialeah. Islam has specific religious requirements that can be difficult to fulfill in other types of cemeteries: Muslims believe in burying loved ones in plots facing East, toward Mecca, the Islamic holy city, for example, as well as burying loved ones as soon as possible after death, since Muslims forgo the use of embalming chemicals.
“Florida’s Muslim community is growing, and there is dire need for burial grounds,” said Ruben Guinovart, who was hired as the project’s contractor and engineer.
But after hearing from both sides, the board unanimously denied the zoning change application, 5-0. Board members did not issue specific reasons for the denial but asked questions during the hearing that hinted at a variety of concerns, including a lack of adequate parking and whether the project was suitable in an area zoned for agriculture.
Over 150 people showed up in support of the project. According to project consultant Labib Ahmed, many walked away with their own questions about what had happened.
“Obviously, we were disappointed. When the decision was made, all you can hear was just silence from people who were in support of the project,” said Ahmed, whose uncle is on the board of Masjid Ul Mumineen. “We didn’t expect it to be a unanimous decision, that’s what shocked us.”
There are no immediate plans to appeal the board’s decision to reject the mosque’s zoning application, according to Ahmed. Those involved in the cemetery proposal plan to gather next week to discuss next steps, but are first, looking for some clarity on why the board rejected the proposal.
Ahmed said supporters could understand if the board wound up split on the issue. “But a unanimous vote of five to zero, it really just doesn’t make sense to us,” Ahmed said.
Around 50 people showed up to oppose the project — which was slated to be constructed in a residential and agricultural area of the Redland — citing concerns about decreasing property values, incompatibility with the surrounding area, and concerns about traffic congestion and water contamination.
“I lived there for 40 years and this piece of property has always been agricultural. It’s always been planted — beans, squash, tomatoes, strawberries. Right now .. it’s a guava grove,” said Robert Baker, who lives about 300 feet from the property.
“This is in the Redland agricultural district. It’s outside of the UDB. You are the Redland Community Council, and I urge you to protect the Redland area,” Baker said.
David Winker, an attorney representing the surrounding neighbors, said his clients did not oppose the religious aspect of the cemetery — a factor that has been brought up in past meetings as a reason for the residents’ opposition — but simply the idea of a cemetery being built in proximity to existing homes.
“I think we got off to a very bad start at the last meeting … where there were a lot of accusations of racism, that these people were opposing this because it was a Muslim cemetery,” Winker said. “I think you’re going to hear today, it’s opposition to a cemetery next to single family homes.”
Supporters showed up ready to address some of the concerns that have been circulating since the last meeting when the item was discussed.
“The design and development considerations for the cemetery will include above ground concrete caskets to prevent water table impact,” said Guinovart. “We will incorporate the use of natural landscaping, using native Florida plants around the entire cemetery so it does not disturb any of the surrounding neighbors.”
READ MORE: Group seeks a new Muslim cemetery in Miami-Dade. Neighbors oppose the rezoning
Redland resident Margarita Valencia said a cemetery would change the character of the community.
“We moved here to raise our family. It’s going to bring a lot of sadness to my family,” said Valencia, whose backyard directly overlooks the site. “We’re not going to be able to celebrate birthdays. It’s a psychological problem for my son, for my family.”
Guinovart stressed that the issues residents raised would be addressed.
“If we have to, we’d even build a wall around the cemetery. Because at the end of the day, we don’t want to make anybody feel uncomfortable,” Guinovart said. “We’re trying to make sure that the neighborhood understands that they’re not going to see a real cemetery there.”
Supporters also argued that the cemetery, which would be owned by a nonprofit, was going be used to provide low-income families with support for costly burial services.
“This is a nonprofit organization. They’re building this for their community. The owners of this land are giving it to their community,” said Guinovart, who was chosen as a spokesperson for the mosque. “I encourage every homeowner to look beyond immediate concerns and consider the long term benefits for the community”
It took three separate meetings to vote on the proposal. In November, one board hearing was deferred because the public did not have enough time to comment, and was pushed back again a few week later after one of the board members failed to attend, leaving the board short of a quorum.
This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
This story was originally published December 14, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
