The planning system and the development of mosques on the Greater Toronto Area

Abstract

Planning for places of worship in contemporary multicultural cities requires that policies and regulations be responsive to the spiritual needs of people of diverse faiths. This article assesses the experience of establishing mosques - Islamic places of worship - in the Toronto area. By 1997, twenty-seven mosques had been established: five built anew and the rest in adapted buildings. They were accommodated fairly within the existing planning policies and zoning bylaws. The assessment also shows that the relevant policies are ambiguous, and that planning standards, particularly concerning traffic and parking, are subject to divergent and contentious interpretations, resulting in widely recognized uncertainties and delays in the planning process. The article points out the subtext of social and political contentiousness that lies beneath the public discussions of planning issues. It concludes with a set of recommendations for both planners and developers of mosques.