Alabama Town Rejects Islamic School Expansion Over Zoning and Community Concerns

In a decisive and emotionally charged meeting this week, the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission in Alabama unanimously rejected a proposal to allow the Islamic Academy of Alabama to relocate and expand its K-12 school campus. The 7-0 vote came after over two hours of public comments from concerned residents, signaling deep unease about both practical and cultural implications.

The proposed site on Corporate Drive would have required the city to rezone office-use property to accommodate the Islamic institution. That request was met with fierce pushback from locals, many of whom argued that the change would only worsen the already overwhelming traffic problem in the area particularly on Highway 119, a corridor already burdened by six nearby schools serving more than 5,600 students.

Key reasons cited for the rejection included:

• Traffic congestion, with residents describing the main highway as a “parking lot” during school hours.

• Incompatibility with Hoover’s long-term development plans, which prioritize office space in the proposed area.

• Concerns over property values and business environment, should a large religious school move in.

More than 1,700 residents signed a petition opposing the move, with many emphasizing that their objections were rooted in zoning logic not religion. “It’s not about religion,” said local resident Jeff Wilson, who started the petition. “It’s about traffic.”

But beneath the surface, it was clear that many residents were also deeply uneasy about the cultural shift such a school could represent in their community. Some held signs warning of an “Islamic 100-year plan,” while others compared Hoover’s future to cities like Dearborn, Michigan, where Muslim populations now dominate local politics and culture.

One speaker claimed Muslims had orchestrated a “long-term cultural takeover” in the UK drawing applause from the crowd before being shut down by Commission Chairman Mike Wood, who insisted the hearing was not the place for such commentary.

Still, that cultural anxiety is exactly what many Americans are thinking but not allowed to say.

While the zoning commission maintained its focus on technical issues, Monday’s meeting revealed a growing concern among everyday Americans: that what’s being presented as a zoning issue is often part of a much broader societal transformation being pushed without the consent of local communities.

This vote was advisory only, and the final decision will now move to the Hoover City Council. But for many, the message is already clear people are waking up and refusing to be steamrolled by political correctness or silent cultural overhauls masquerading as zoning requests.

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