07-26-2008, 09:00 AM
Gwinnett says no to Hindu Temple
Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^
Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 12:36:32 PM by The Lion Roars
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/27/06
Gwinnett County commissioners struck down plans Tuesday for a Hindu group to build a temple down the street from a second, larger temple in Lilburn.
Commissioners made the unanimous decision because a temple of its size would be out of character with the area and the neighbors, said commissioner Bert Nasuti.
"I've never seen a church or a religious organization that didn't desire to grow," Nasuti said. "This is too much structure for this property."
Ramesh Suhagia, speaking for the Hindu group, proposed scaling down the size, but to no avail.
The 13,000-square foot temple for the Swaminarayan Satsang Mandir of Atlanta would have been on on four acres on Lawrenceville Highway. The property is behind a Walgreens in a largely residential negihborhood about a mile from a second temple more than twice as large already under construction by another Swaminarayan Hindu congregation. Because the larger temple is in Lilburn's city limits, its builders did not need permission from county government.
Leaders of the group denied construction permission Tuesday said they would meet together and sort out their options. Mansukh Dhanani [cq], president of Swaminarayan Satsang Mandir of Atlanta, said his group would look for land elsewhere in Gwinnett County, and expressed optimism.
"I've lived for 10 years in Gwinnett. My business is here," he said. "Man will let you down. God will not."
Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^
Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 12:36:32 PM by The Lion Roars
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/27/06
Gwinnett County commissioners struck down plans Tuesday for a Hindu group to build a temple down the street from a second, larger temple in Lilburn.
Commissioners made the unanimous decision because a temple of its size would be out of character with the area and the neighbors, said commissioner Bert Nasuti.
"I've never seen a church or a religious organization that didn't desire to grow," Nasuti said. "This is too much structure for this property."
Ramesh Suhagia, speaking for the Hindu group, proposed scaling down the size, but to no avail.
The 13,000-square foot temple for the Swaminarayan Satsang Mandir of Atlanta would have been on on four acres on Lawrenceville Highway. The property is behind a Walgreens in a largely residential negihborhood about a mile from a second temple more than twice as large already under construction by another Swaminarayan Hindu congregation. Because the larger temple is in Lilburn's city limits, its builders did not need permission from county government.
Leaders of the group denied construction permission Tuesday said they would meet together and sort out their options. Mansukh Dhanani [cq], president of Swaminarayan Satsang Mandir of Atlanta, said his group would look for land elsewhere in Gwinnett County, and expressed optimism.
"I've lived for 10 years in Gwinnett. My business is here," he said. "Man will let you down. God will not."