Date: Fri 23-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Adath-Israel-synagogue

Full Text:

P&Z Rejects Plan For Synagogue

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has turned down the Congregation of

Adath Israel's request for a special exception to the zoning regulations to

build a new synagogue and religious school on Huntingtown Road.

In a split decision October 15, P&Z members voted 3-to-2 against the proposal

to build a two-story, approximately 8,000-square-foot building which would

house a new synagogue and school.

The site is a two-acre parcel on the east side of Huntingtown Road, just south

of the congregation's existing synagogue.

The P&Z turned down the proposal "without prejudice," meaning the congregation

can submit another proposal as soon as it wants and not have to undergo a

waiting period to do so.

In conversation among P&Z members at the October 15 session, member Heidi

Winslow noted that the proposed two-acre site is not large, but it appears to

meet all pertinent criteria for receiving a special exception. Houses of

worship need not architecturally conform to the residential areas where they

often are located, said Ms Winslow, according to P&Z records.

P&Z member Daniel Fogliano, however, pointed out that at a September public

hearing some nearby property owners said the proposed building is too large

and would sit too close to the lot's property side lines, according to P&Z

records.

Similarly, P&Z member James Boylan said the proposed building is too large,

noting that the building should be reduced in size to increase the parking

area, or some arrangements should be made to have congregation members park in

an existing lot on the west side of Huntingtown Road, according to commission

records.

Also, P&Z member Robert Taylor said the proposed building is too large.

Ms Winslow then moved to approve the application, with conditions.

Ms Winslow voted in favor of her motion, as did P&Z Chairman Stephen Koch.

Voting in opposition to it were Messrs Fogliano, Boylan and Taylor.

In a move to make their action more legally sound, P&Z members then inverted

their motion, casting it in negative terms, resulting in a 3-to-2 motion to

disapprove the application.

In giving reasons for the application's rejection, Mr Fogliano said the

building's design would not be in harmony with the neighborhood, home values

would be adversely affected, and only a 26-foot spacing between the building

and the congregation property side lines is inadequate.

In the vote to disapprove, three of the five voting P&Z members decided the

application did not meet a special exception criterion which requires a

proposed building to harmonize with the character of a neighborhood in terms

of building size.

P&Z members conducted a public hearing September 17 on the congregation's

request for a special exception to the zoning regulations to construct a

building that would contain a house of worship and a religious school.

Off-road parking for 43 vehicles would have been provided under the plan.

In a traffic report prepared for the applicant, traffic engineer Irving Chann

found that existing roads in the area can satisfactorily accommodate

anticipated traffic flow in terms of volume and safety. The presence of new

facilities would have no adverse effect on any nearby roadways, according to

Mr Chann.

Some nearby property owners attending the public hearing posed questions on

how the presence of a new building would affect the neighborhood, including

the building's appearance and the effect the facility would have on local

traffic.

In its application, the congregation states the presence of new facilities

would have no adverse effects on the value of adjoining properties.