By Matt Chiappardi, Staff Writer
ROBBINSVILLE The nonprofit Hindu organization BAPS will be allowed to construct a temple as part of its planned five-building religious complex that is nearly twice the height allowed by local ordinance.
The Planning Board, by a 6-1 vote Feb. 24, approved a height variance that would allow BAPS to build a 108-foot high Mahmandirim, a specific type of Hindu temple that would be the first of its kind in North America. The temple is planned as part of a complex on 37 acres of a 102.5-acre property at North Main Street and Route 130 in the village of Windsor. It would be the final phase of a five-phase project, and the township approved the other four phases in October 2008.
The township height limit is 55 feet.
The board granted the approval to the faith-based Swaminarayan Hindu organization despite about 40 residents who came to two consecutive meetings complaining about the tourist traffic the complex could potentially bring to the area and the impact it could have on the historic character of Windsor.
Board members who voted to OK the variance said they did so because only the height of the temple was before them for consideration, and the rest of the project was already approved.
”The height is not a basis to rethink a previously approved application,” said board member Neil Rivers. “I do believe this complex will be a tourist destination, but the height will not change whether it is a destination or not.”
Board member Eric Lasky, who also voted to approve the variance, said he is skeptical the complex will generate the throngs of tourists residents say they fear.
”I know a lot of people who are Catholic, and they don’t make a mass exodus to St. Patrick’s Cathedral (in New York City) every Sunday for Mass,” he said. “Will there be some people who come? Yes. But I doubt it will be all the time and in huge numbers.”
Board member Dino Colarocco, who also voted to approve, said he didn’t believe residents’ concerns about traffic were pertinent to what was before the board.
”I understand that traffic is a concern to people, but it’s really not relevant to the height of the building,” Mr. Colarocco said. “There may be people speeding down the road from it, but that’s why we have police officers.”
The lone dissenting vote came from Daniele Breyta, who during the meeting successfully urged that a restriction on right-hand turns onto North Main Street during peak worship hours be part of the approval.
After the meeting, Ms. Breyta would only say she opposed the variance because she felt the height should be restricted.
Ms. Breyta had previously said she thought the temple would be too much of a tourist attraction for the community to handle.
That view was echoed by a number of residents, many of whom were skeptical of claims made by consultants who work for BAPS that the temple would only generate about a dozen additional cars.
Marilyn Maskowitz, of Church Street, said she was looking forward to having the complex in the township but still thought it would bring in much more traffic.
”I can’t wait to go to the festivals, but I’m dreading the traffic,” she said. “If there were a way to structure the parking so cars don’t have to go through Windsor, that would be great for us.”
North Main Street resident Kim Johnson said she doesn’t think the roads in Windsor can handle any additional traffic.
”They are already in bad shape,” she said.
Laura Knight, of Church Street, said she researched similar BAPS temples in India and said that one had caught fire and another was the target of an armed terrorist attack in 2002. She said she feared the same could happen in the township.
Neither township officials nor BAPS representatives responded to the possibility of a terrorist threat. But Township Engineer Tim McGough said the temple would be built to state fire code, as is every other building in the township.
Ram Patel, who owns Russert’s Deli on Route 130, said he is pleased to have the BAPS complex heading to the township.
”This is a project that will not only contribute to the daily life of the township but bring a new an exotic culture to town,” he said.
Site work has already begun on the site. All of the work is expected to take five to seven years.
BAPS is planning to build a religious assembly hall, two rectories, a yoga/sports/dining hall, a welcome center, a prayer and ritual hall, a religious youth activity center and a dining hall.
The closest BAPS complex to the township is in Edison, about 35 miles from the township.
mchiappardi
@centraljersey.com
