McKinney City Council greenlights mosque relocation amid heated resident protests

Following a unanimous recommendation from the planning and zoning commission, the McKinney City Council unanimously approved the McKinney Islamic Association’s plan to relocate to a 5-acre site on Virginia Parkway, adjacent to two neighborhoods and a high school. The proposed development includes a 37,000-square-foot mosque, educational spaces, a gymnasium and meeting rooms, designed to serve 3,000 people. The council session attracted hundreds of residents, many expressing concerns that the mosque would introduce Sharia law and pose security risks, while others argued that traffic impacts would be modest.

Republican U.S. Rep. Keith Self and state Rep. Keresa Richardson publicly urged council members to block the proposal, citing fears of foreign influence. Councilman Justin Beller moved the approval and Councilwoman Geré Feltus seconded it, emphasizing the association’s 17-year contribution to the community. The motion passed unanimously, moving the project into engineering, platting and permitting phases.