Congregation Revises Synagogue Construction Proposal

By Andrew Gorosko

In response to comments about its initial construction proposal, Congregation Adath Israel has revised its plans for a new synagogue at 115 Huntingtown Road, decreasing the height of two roof peaks on the building’s façade.

Local developer and builder Kim Danziger, who is the congregation’s agent, presented the revised plans to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) at an August 5 public hearing.

At a July 15 public hearing, some nearby residential property owners had objected to the proposed synagogue’s size, height, and architectural style, charging that the building would be too large for its surroundings, would generate additional traffic, and would damage nearby property values. P&Z member Robert Mulholland had suggested that the architectural plans be redrawn to decrease the proposed synagogue’s roofline.

The P&Z is considering a proposal from the congregation to build an approximately 11,200-square-foot synagogue on an almost two-acre site at 115 Huntingtown Road to replace the congregation’s existing nearby synagogue at 111 Huntingtown Road. The proposed new building would be almost triple the size of the existing synagogue, according to the applicant.

On August 5, Mr Danziger said the revised architectural plans reduce the height of the roof peak atop the synagogue’s sanctuary by three vertical feet, and reduce the height of the roof peak above the building’s vestibule by 3½ vertical feet. The revisions would reduce the height of the highest roof  peak to 28½  feet above ground level, Mr Danziger said.

Mr Danziger provided P&Z members with written responses to technical questions about the application that were raised by town staff members.

On August 10, congregation spokesman Eric Israel said, “We are very happy with the progress we are making. We have made some revisions that should help to address the concerns of the town and local residents. We look forward to getting started, so we can move into our new home.”

At the August 5 public hearing, resident Mary Salley of 107 Huntingtown Road said that the congregation’s website on the Internet depicts an expansion of the proposed new synagogue. Ms Salley expressed concerns about such an expansion project. She asked whether the P&Z could approve a synagogue construction project with a prohibition on such future expansion.

Mr Danziger replied that the plans posted on the congregation’s website are outdated. “At this point we have no intention of asking for expansion,” he said. If any such expansion project would be sought, that would happen at some point in the future, he added.

At the August 5 session, the P&Z received a petition from several nearby property owners formally objecting to the synagogue construction proposal.

P&Z Chairman William O’Neil said he expects that P&Z members will discuss and act on the synagogue proposal at their September 2 meeting.

The current construction proposal calls for a somewhat smaller synagogue than the one that the P&Z approved for the congregation in February 1999 in a 4-to-1 vote. That controversial proposal specified a 13,220-square-foot structure. That P&Z approval prompted an unsuccessful lawsuit against the P&Z by a Huntingtown Road man, who charged that the P&Z acted illegally when it endorsed the project.

In the fall of 1998, the congregation’s initial proposal for synagogue construction proved controversial when it was submitted for P&Z review, with nearby property owners charging that the proposed building was too large. In October 1998, P&Z members rejected that initial application in a 3-to-2 vote, in part, due to the building’s size. The congregation then sued the P&Z over that rejection, later winning the February 1999 P&Z approval.

Under the current proposal, the congregation is seeking a “special exception” to the zoning regulations to build the synagogue. The structure would be built on two levels, with the upper level facing Huntingtown Road, and a basement level exposed along the other sides of the building. The site is in an R-2 (Residential) zone.