07-19-2008, 09:02 PM
http://www.pluralism.org/research/profiles...p?profile=74116
Concerns of the Community Members
At a Planning Commission public hearing in September of 2004, 44 community members spoke, 50% in support of the project and 50% in opposition to it. The opposition cited concerns such as the "visual impacts of the complex," "conflicts with rural character of the community," traffic, and loss of potential uses for the space. (18) In addition to the speakers at the meeting, the Planning Commission Office of Chino Hills has been inundated with letters regarding the project since its possibility was first announced in 2002. "To date [as of September 14, 2004], staff counts a total of 1,600 comments, 809 of which are in support of the project, 791 in opposition. Comments in support of the project generally address the aspects of aesthetics, cultural diversity, religious freedom, and the positive nature of the BAPS community. Those in opposition of the project generally address conflicts with the community's rural character, traffic, loss of potential economic revenues by not utilizing the property for commercial purposes, and loss of a potential multifamily housing site." (19)
The letters from community members published in the report express many of these concerns, especially worries about the complex "blending in." Cassandra Putinier, in a letter dated July 3, 2003, writes, "The scope of this project seems too ambitious for the size of the congregation pledging to build it and sustain the complex." (20)
Other community members feel uncomfortable with such an obvious minority presence. In particular, Larry Blugrind, a Chino Hills resident, vocalized this concern in two letters. The first, dated June 5, 2003, reads: "Should this temple be allowed to be built, you are opening the door to Pandora's box. What will then happen is, for example, Chinese, Arabic, and other nationalities will want to build buildings in Chino Hills with THEIR third world architecture, and part of Chino Hills will look like a third world country." (21) saying in a later letter, dated June 21, 2003, he writes, referring to "that horrible Hindu temple," saying, "For one, it will RUIN, i.e., NOT FIT INTO the RURAL ATMOSPHERE of Chino Hills!!!"
One letter expressed concern because most Chino Hills residents are Judeo-Christian, and Hinduism, which the letter incorrectly defined as a polytheistic religion, goes against the beliefs of the majority of the residents. (22)
Response to Concerns
It seems that community members are worried that the complex will stand out as a result of its size and architectural style, that the temple and cultural center is not being given enough time to be considered, that they have been uninformed about the project, that it is too large and imposing, and that it will attract unwanted tourists. Other concerns include worries about traffic congestion, insufficient parking and room for growth, lack of generating new revenue, and limited benefits for the entire community. BAPS has attempted to address most if not all of these concerns by putting lots of money into research on these issues. The city has also sponsored tests and studies. The research and analysis has proven that many of these concerns, particularly those about traffic congestion and revenue generation, are invalid. The project, set along a freeway, will not affect residential areas, thus not blocking mountain views, and a continuation of Fairfield Ranch Road will alleviate any traffic problems the center may create. BAPS has planned for more parking spaces than the city requires and is speculated to actually increase revenue due to its expansion of Fairfield Ranch Road and the resulting accessibility of that area. (23) In addition, BAPS states on the website that visitors and attendance at the temple will unquestionably generate additional sales and commerce in Chino Hills.
The other concerns, which cannot be evaluated as easily by quantitative research, have been harder for BAPS to address or, at the very least, diminish. In the fiction/fact section of its website, BAPS responds to the concern that the center will serve only a very limited section of the city's population: "The temple and cultural center will be open to all faiths, and to the general public...The size of the temple facility itself is similar to other churches, and the size of weekly attendance will be similar to the congregations of other churches throughout the community. Today, Chino Hills has over 500 Indian families, and is the geographic center of a large Indian-American population in southern California that has been part of the region's economic vibrancy over the last decade. The City of Chino Hills is an ideal and appropriate location for this temple and cultural center complex." (24) Additionally, BAPS provides a plethora of reasons why the center will not just serve the community but also be beneficial to it, as mentioned earlier in this report. (see citation number 32)
BAPS has made an effort to incorporate the local community into the project, in its design, process of getting approved, and intention. Architecturally, the center has been designed with both Indian and Californian styles in mind: "the cultural center is designed to incorporate a more typical California style, and is centered around two courtyards, further reflecting traditional California design." (25) This fact is used in response to the community concern of the center clashing with the surrounding area.
Responding to concerns that the community is not getting a say in the matter, BAPS says: "The City's Planning Commission held two public hearings, during which proponents explained the project in detail, and supporters and opponents voiced their opinions. The appearance and impacts of this project have been open to public scrutiny for a long period of time." (26) This is apparent in the letters and publicly voiced concerns available in the Planning Commission Office.
Concerns of the Community Members
At a Planning Commission public hearing in September of 2004, 44 community members spoke, 50% in support of the project and 50% in opposition to it. The opposition cited concerns such as the "visual impacts of the complex," "conflicts with rural character of the community," traffic, and loss of potential uses for the space. (18) In addition to the speakers at the meeting, the Planning Commission Office of Chino Hills has been inundated with letters regarding the project since its possibility was first announced in 2002. "To date [as of September 14, 2004], staff counts a total of 1,600 comments, 809 of which are in support of the project, 791 in opposition. Comments in support of the project generally address the aspects of aesthetics, cultural diversity, religious freedom, and the positive nature of the BAPS community. Those in opposition of the project generally address conflicts with the community's rural character, traffic, loss of potential economic revenues by not utilizing the property for commercial purposes, and loss of a potential multifamily housing site." (19)
The letters from community members published in the report express many of these concerns, especially worries about the complex "blending in." Cassandra Putinier, in a letter dated July 3, 2003, writes, "The scope of this project seems too ambitious for the size of the congregation pledging to build it and sustain the complex." (20)
Other community members feel uncomfortable with such an obvious minority presence. In particular, Larry Blugrind, a Chino Hills resident, vocalized this concern in two letters. The first, dated June 5, 2003, reads: "Should this temple be allowed to be built, you are opening the door to Pandora's box. What will then happen is, for example, Chinese, Arabic, and other nationalities will want to build buildings in Chino Hills with THEIR third world architecture, and part of Chino Hills will look like a third world country." (21) saying in a later letter, dated June 21, 2003, he writes, referring to "that horrible Hindu temple," saying, "For one, it will RUIN, i.e., NOT FIT INTO the RURAL ATMOSPHERE of Chino Hills!!!"
One letter expressed concern because most Chino Hills residents are Judeo-Christian, and Hinduism, which the letter incorrectly defined as a polytheistic religion, goes against the beliefs of the majority of the residents. (22)
Response to Concerns
It seems that community members are worried that the complex will stand out as a result of its size and architectural style, that the temple and cultural center is not being given enough time to be considered, that they have been uninformed about the project, that it is too large and imposing, and that it will attract unwanted tourists. Other concerns include worries about traffic congestion, insufficient parking and room for growth, lack of generating new revenue, and limited benefits for the entire community. BAPS has attempted to address most if not all of these concerns by putting lots of money into research on these issues. The city has also sponsored tests and studies. The research and analysis has proven that many of these concerns, particularly those about traffic congestion and revenue generation, are invalid. The project, set along a freeway, will not affect residential areas, thus not blocking mountain views, and a continuation of Fairfield Ranch Road will alleviate any traffic problems the center may create. BAPS has planned for more parking spaces than the city requires and is speculated to actually increase revenue due to its expansion of Fairfield Ranch Road and the resulting accessibility of that area. (23) In addition, BAPS states on the website that visitors and attendance at the temple will unquestionably generate additional sales and commerce in Chino Hills.
The other concerns, which cannot be evaluated as easily by quantitative research, have been harder for BAPS to address or, at the very least, diminish. In the fiction/fact section of its website, BAPS responds to the concern that the center will serve only a very limited section of the city's population: "The temple and cultural center will be open to all faiths, and to the general public...The size of the temple facility itself is similar to other churches, and the size of weekly attendance will be similar to the congregations of other churches throughout the community. Today, Chino Hills has over 500 Indian families, and is the geographic center of a large Indian-American population in southern California that has been part of the region's economic vibrancy over the last decade. The City of Chino Hills is an ideal and appropriate location for this temple and cultural center complex." (24) Additionally, BAPS provides a plethora of reasons why the center will not just serve the community but also be beneficial to it, as mentioned earlier in this report. (see citation number 32)
BAPS has made an effort to incorporate the local community into the project, in its design, process of getting approved, and intention. Architecturally, the center has been designed with both Indian and Californian styles in mind: "the cultural center is designed to incorporate a more typical California style, and is centered around two courtyards, further reflecting traditional California design." (25) This fact is used in response to the community concern of the center clashing with the surrounding area.
Responding to concerns that the community is not getting a say in the matter, BAPS says: "The City's Planning Commission held two public hearings, during which proponents explained the project in detail, and supporters and opponents voiced their opinions. The appearance and impacts of this project have been open to public scrutiny for a long period of time." (26) This is apparent in the letters and publicly voiced concerns available in the Planning Commission Office.