அரிஜோனா மாநிலத்தில் இந்து கோவிலுக்கு அனுமதி

அரிஜோனாவில் இந்துக்கோவிலுக்கு நகர கவுன்ஸில் அனுமதி வழங்கியுள்ளது.

வாழ்க வளமுடன்

After 1 hour, 25 speakers, council approves Hindu temple
Ray Parker
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 30, 2007 08:00 AM

The Chandler City Council approved the construction of a Hindu temple in the central part of town, but only after listening for more than an hour to 25 speakers divided on the issue.

James Mowbray expressed the views of many of the neighborhood residents during Thursday night's meeting.

"It will be detrimental to the property values in the area . . . and the architecture is not compatible," he said about the temple that will go up at the southwestern corner of Dobson Road and Galveston Street.





Resident Vidyanath Tirumala countered that the nearest place of worship for him is in California, so the Chandler location had obvious advantages.

In the end, the council approved the measure, 6-0, with council member Trinity Donovan abstaining because her parents live in the area.

Previously, the Planning and Zoning Commission had approved the special-use permit for the temple, called the SVK Religious & Cultural Center, at 590 N.Dobson Road.

Still, neighborhood residents threatened a civil lawsuit because of property deed restrictions.

"It appears we have a good case," Mike Rathertold the council.

City Attorney Michael Housesaid deed restrictions are not enforced by the city, and later, he reviewed a federal law that requires the council to have a compelling public safety issue in order to deny a religious structure.

Temple representative Zamir Hasan told the council he had already made concessions to neighbors on the 7,500-square-foot structure on 1.8 acres, including lowering the three towers (the highest will be 42 feet, while the other two will be 30 feet), creating 22 additional parking spaces beyond the required 50, and keeping the temple to one story.

Neighborhood residents said they did not object to the temple because of religious reasons but because it would be too small to hold all the visitors to it.

Councilman Matt Orlando said he reviewed the sizes of churches in the area and concluded the Hindu temple would be the smallest.

Mayor Boyd Dunnasked if temple builders would be expanding. City planner Jodie Novakreplied there would be no space.

She explained there would be a 2,500-square-foot prayer hall with other areas totaling 5,000 square feet, including a dining hall, classrooms and bedrooms, where four people associated with the temple could live.

She added the highest ornamental tower would be 42 feet, while a Mormon church across the street has a steeple rising 71 feet.

Councilman Martin Sepulvedasaid that most of the temple would have to be built within one year or the issue would return to the council.

Temple representative Hasan said it would be completed in 12 to 18 months.

Temple proponent Ananth Rao summed up: "I would like a religious place for me and my family."