Group unveils
plan for local
Hindu temple
MARLBORO — Representatives speaking on behalf of a Hindu congregation have described plans for the construction of a temple to members of the Planning Board.
According to testimony presented to the board on March 6, the site plan calls for the temple to be built on a 3.4-acre plot of land at Route 79 and Orchard Parkway on the border of Marlboro and Matawan.
If the plan is approved, the structure will be called the Jalaram Seva Sama, which means "organization serving St. Jalaram" in the Indian dialect of Gujarati, according to Deven Unadkat, a member of the temple’s committee.
"We picked this region particularly because a large part of our congregation lives in this area," Unadkat said. "They are predominantly Gujarati and speak that dialect."
The plan calls for three floors, one of which will be exposed only from behind, due to a grade in the land.
The top floor would have living quarters for a priest and his family. The building also has space to accommodate visiting speakers, Unadkat said.
The main floor would be for the temple and the bottom floor would be used for activities for the congregation’s children. The temple would have a 108-space parking lot, according to project engineer James Majewski of Crest Engineering Associates, Hightstown.
During the public hearing on the plan, several residents of the area discussed their concerns about possible traffic problems the temple could cause.
To enter the site, southbound drivers would need to make a right turn from Route 79. Northbound drivers would have to use an entrance on the residential Orchard Parkway, Majewski said.
Other people expressed concern that the trees planned to surround the temple property would not be enough to stop rainwater runoff to prevent headlights from cars in the parking lot from shining into neighboring homes. The property is elevated above some of the area homes.
"My house is approximately 4 feet lower than the property," said Michael Salvatore, of neighboring William Street, Matawan. "There aren’t shrubs back there. They’re garbage."
Unadkat said the temple’s early services would not produce a problem with vehicle headlights.
Services would be held at 3, 5 and 7 p.m. on weekdays for a duration of 5 to 10 minutes, he said. Weekend services would be two hours long and held in the afternoon. There are three feast days a year that would host five-hour services, he said.
No decision was made on the application. The public hearing is expected to be continued on April 17 at Town Hall.