Guest guest Posted March 16, 2004 Report Share Posted March 16, 2004 HinduThought, "Ashok Chowgule" <ashokvc@c...> wrote: Edison council opposes proposed Hindu temple Author: Jerry Barca Publication: Courier News March 11, 2004 URL: http://www.c-n.com/news/c-n/story/0,2111,923126,00.html The Township Council has sided with residents who fear a proposed Hindu temple in neighboring South Plainfield would disrupt their quiet neighborhood. On Wednesday night, council members cited traffic concerns, not religious denomination, in adopting a resolution in opposition to the proposed one- story, 14,000-square-foot temple on the former Coastal Oil site. "This particular development can negatively impact, quite seriously, a neighborhood in Edison," said Councilman Anthony Massaro. The International Swaminarayan Satsang Organization is seeking to build the temple on an area zoned for light industrial use. While the entire building would sit in South Plainfield, the lone access to the 6.7- acre plot is through Edison, namely Fleet Avenue. Members of the congregation would have to traverse Universal Avenue or Nevsky Street to reach the closest major thoroughfare, Park Avenue. Tonight, the public will have a chance to speak about the application at an 8 p.m. zoning board meeting in South Plainfield Borough Hall. Rick Brown, Edison township engineer, is slated to voice the governing body's concerns at the meeting. Irene Wall, a Fleet Avenue resident, has led her neighborhood's fight to stop the proposed temple from being built. "Our area is not conducive to this kind of development," said Wall, who lobbied the Edison council for support earlier this week. Edison residents next to the proposed site fear cars traveling to and from the temple will disrupt their quiet neighborhood of a half-dozen dead-end streets with Fleet Avenue as the only outlet. South Plainfield police have questioned whether Nevsky Street and Fleet and Universal avenues could handle the increased number of motorists the temple would yield, according to a Jan. 28 letter Sgt. Kevin Murtagh, of the traffic safety unit, sent to the zoning board. But a traffic study performed on behalf of the developer by Medina Consultants of Princeton stated the increased traffic from the temple would not negatively affect Edison or South Plainfield. "A place of worship, as I've stated before, is probably the best use for the site compared to what it is zoned for," said Dhruval Shah, director of the Swaminarayan Satsang's Central New Jersey chapter. The area is zoned for light industrial use, requiring a variance for the temple to be built. The Hindu group currently holds services in the Knights of Columbus building in the Iselin section of Woodbridge. The congregation of 150 people is expected to reach 250. The congregation wants to build the temple so it can have its own place to worship. Shah believes zoning law allows the temple to be built. If his group is denied by the zoning board, Shah said an appeal will be filed. --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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