‘Gold Coast’ LI town finally allows mosque to expand — after $4M-plus taxpayer-funded legal battle

A “Gold Coast’’ Long Island town has agreed to allow a local mosque to expand, finally ending a bitter battle that racked up more than $4 million in legal fees for taxpayers.

The Town of Oyster Bay’s board voted 6-1 last week to end the federal lawsuit brought against it by the Muslims of Long Island, thus allowing the group to build a slightly scaled-down version of its original expansion proposal for the Masjid Al-Baqi mosque in the hamlet of Bethpage.

“These steps reflect a reasonable compromise that prioritizes safety, quality of life, and mutual respect among all who live and worship in the Bethpage community,” a town rep told The Post.

The Town of Oyster Bay voted to allow an expansion of the Masjid Al-Baqi mosque in Bethpage after a lengthy legal battle. Google

The mosque’s worshipers said they are just happy the saga is over. 

“This is a day of new beginnings,” said congregant Imran Makda. 

“Our doors will always be open to the community, and we hope our mosque will be a place where people come together in friendship and mutual respect.”

Bethpage, which is located within the tony town of Oyster Bay, was already set to owe $3.95 million in legal fees months before Tuesday’s settlement.

Oyster Bay itself has racked up nearly $400,000 in outside legal fees since January, when the suit was first brought by MOLI, accusing town Bay leaders of passing laws specifically aimed at the mosque, according to town billing records. 

A rendering of the mosque expansion in Oyster Bay. Muslims on Long Island

During the ensuing months, town officials admitted under oath to fabricating a fake grandma witness who they claimed couldn’t drive her car down the streets around the mosque because the roads were choked with worshippers’ cars.

The officials also hired and eventually fired a traffic-expert “bigot” used in their case before finally admitting they had, in fact, targeted the mosque purposely with its new zoning laws, according to court documents. 

The agreement settling the dispute was inked fewer than 24 hours before both sides were set to start trial.

“This agreement resolves planning concerns and allows us to move forward as one community – with a smaller facility, less occupancy, improved traffic safety, added on-site parking, and a shared commitment to safety, quality of life, and mutual respect in Bethpage,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said in a statement. 

Under the new agreement, the mosque is allowed to expand to 9,950 square feet — about 1,100 square feet smaller than the original plan.

The revised proposal cuts the occupancy cap to 295 people, a 36% decrease from the 464 originally proposed.

An arbitrator will determine the amount of money that MOLI is entitled to recover in attorney’s fees, also paid for by taxpayers.