07-19-2008, 07:00 PM
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/lakeworth/con...6_tim_0709.html
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Neighbors oppose Hindu temple construction
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By Tim Pallesen
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
A proposal to build a Hindu temple on Lantana Road has sparked concerns among neighbors.
The Sevashram Sangha congregation was set to ask county commissioners this month for zoning to allow a 4,672-square-foot sanctuary plus offices to be built on the northeast corner of Lantana Road and Bentbrook Boulevard.
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But the proposal was postponed at least a month after residents of Country Lakes West voiced opposition after the congregation's architect showed them the temple plans on June 24.
"We don't care if it's Hindu, Christian or Catholic - we don't want a place of worship there," said resident Jerry Parker, an opposition leader.
The Hindu congregation has worshipped for three years in a single-family home on the 1.65-acre site that Country Lakes residents must pass to access Lantana Road.
"The owners and their worshippers already cause a traffic nightmare," Parker wrote County Commissioner Jeff Koons. "They constantly have garbage all over the property."
The congregation's pastor, Pandig Maharaj, didn't return a phone call for comment. Temple architect Christopher Barry declined to comment.
Country Lake's property owners' association has focused on traffic as its primary reason to oppose building the new temple.
"We believe this project will cause a traffic problem at the entrance to our community," the homeowners association wrote in a letter that urged residents to attend the June 24 meeting.
After the meeting, Barry asked for the zoning request to be delayed one month to address the neighborhood's traffic concern. He proposed adding a right-turn lane on Bentbrook Boulevard.
#
Colonial Lakes redesigned: A new developer is making headway with the controversial Colonial Lakes residential project on Lake Worth Road.
Greenacres and county officials harshly criticized the original Colonial Lakes request for 144 units on fewer than 10 acres as an unattractive fire-safety hazard. The county last year had given developer Jose Safdie 39 extra units to build as affordable housing.
Greenacres officials objected to Safdie's plan, citing excessive density and a fear that firetrucks wouldn't have room to gain access to the six three-story buildings.
Colonial Lakes also was blasted by a county zoning commissioner. Don DuFresne told the developer's architect: "It just doesn't look like a nice place to live. It's not pretty."
The new developer, The Richman Group, has redesigned Colonial Lakes to trim 12 units and alleviate the fire concern. "We want to make friends in Greenacres," Richman Group development associate Shannon Lee said.
The revamped Colonial Lakes proposal also will have more landscaping and amenities when it goes to county commissioners for approval on July 24.
A market study for the Richman Group showed demand for multi-family housing in the Lake Worth Road area west of Haverhill Road.
email page print page popular pages
Neighbors oppose Hindu temple construction
Listen to this article or download audio file.Click-2-Listen
By Tim Pallesen
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
A proposal to build a Hindu temple on Lantana Road has sparked concerns among neighbors.
The Sevashram Sangha congregation was set to ask county commissioners this month for zoning to allow a 4,672-square-foot sanctuary plus offices to be built on the northeast corner of Lantana Road and Bentbrook Boulevard.
Neighborhood Post
Lake Worth/Lantana
Click here for the latest news, sports, neighbor profiles and calendars.
⢠State news
Storm 2007: Hurricane news
Community Forum
Share your opinion about current Lake Worth issues.
⢠Best of the Blotters
More neighbors, area news:
⢠Boynton | Boca & Delray
⢠LW/Lantana | West Palm
⢠Jupiter & PBG/NPB
⢠Treasure Coast
⢠Wellington & RPB
⢠Get neighborhood news
Share This Story
Y Buzz
del.icio.us
digg
Newsvine
Technorati
Fark
More
What are these?
But the proposal was postponed at least a month after residents of Country Lakes West voiced opposition after the congregation's architect showed them the temple plans on June 24.
"We don't care if it's Hindu, Christian or Catholic - we don't want a place of worship there," said resident Jerry Parker, an opposition leader.
The Hindu congregation has worshipped for three years in a single-family home on the 1.65-acre site that Country Lakes residents must pass to access Lantana Road.
"The owners and their worshippers already cause a traffic nightmare," Parker wrote County Commissioner Jeff Koons. "They constantly have garbage all over the property."
The congregation's pastor, Pandig Maharaj, didn't return a phone call for comment. Temple architect Christopher Barry declined to comment.
Country Lake's property owners' association has focused on traffic as its primary reason to oppose building the new temple.
"We believe this project will cause a traffic problem at the entrance to our community," the homeowners association wrote in a letter that urged residents to attend the June 24 meeting.
After the meeting, Barry asked for the zoning request to be delayed one month to address the neighborhood's traffic concern. He proposed adding a right-turn lane on Bentbrook Boulevard.
#
Colonial Lakes redesigned: A new developer is making headway with the controversial Colonial Lakes residential project on Lake Worth Road.
Greenacres and county officials harshly criticized the original Colonial Lakes request for 144 units on fewer than 10 acres as an unattractive fire-safety hazard. The county last year had given developer Jose Safdie 39 extra units to build as affordable housing.
Greenacres officials objected to Safdie's plan, citing excessive density and a fear that firetrucks wouldn't have room to gain access to the six three-story buildings.
Colonial Lakes also was blasted by a county zoning commissioner. Don DuFresne told the developer's architect: "It just doesn't look like a nice place to live. It's not pretty."
The new developer, The Richman Group, has redesigned Colonial Lakes to trim 12 units and alleviate the fire concern. "We want to make friends in Greenacres," Richman Group development associate Shannon Lee said.
The revamped Colonial Lakes proposal also will have more landscaping and amenities when it goes to county commissioners for approval on July 24.
A market study for the Richman Group showed demand for multi-family housing in the Lake Worth Road area west of Haverhill Road.