The vote late Tuesday was 29-1 in favor, with 10 abstentions. It came after hours of contentious public comment.
Supporters say the mosque will build bridges and foster interfaith dialogue.
Critics says the proposed lower Manhattan site is an insult to Sept. 11 victims. Tea Party Express chairman Mark Williams has called it a monument to the Sept. 11 attackers.
Some Sept. 11 victims' families say they're angry the mosque would be built so close to where their relatives died.
The organizations sponsoring the project say they're trying to meet a growing need for prayer space. They also want to provide a venue for mainstream Islam to counter extremism
