GUILFORD, CT — It was just a question of time before the religion issue was raised during the public hearings held on the Chabad-Lubavitch of the Shoreline’s application before the Planning & Zoning Commission to build a synagogue on Goose Lane.
Chabad Hearings Heat Up
GUILFORD, CT — It was just a question of time before the religion issue was raised during the public hearings held on the Chabad-Lubavitch of the Shoreline’s application before the Planning & Zoning Commission to build a synagogue on Goose Lane.
In heated speeches, the subject of religion was raised by those speaking both in favor and against the application. Those speaking positively about the Chabad said others were afraid of change and of having a Hasidic Jewish synagogue come to their town.
“The neighbor’s opposition to the Chabad is highly exaggerated and of collective hysteria,” said Moshe Gai of Branford.
Suzanne Crelin of West Street remarked on the lack of houses of worship for Jews in Guilford.
“As I look around town, there are many churches in residential neighborhoods,” she said. “I am hoping that we can welcome change.”
On a similar note, Lili Foggle of Madison counted 26 churches in Branford, Guilford, and Madison.
“Surely there is room among all those churches for one synagogue,” she noted.
Those speaking against the application said their objection was to the size of the building and the chosen location, not the Chabad itself.
“We object to this building not because it’s a synagogue but because it’s a large building on a small site. If they wanted to build a Taco Bell I’d object to that, too. It has nothing to do with religion,” said Karen Flately of Village Victoria.
Susan Knoll of Cindy Lane echoed the previous speaker, saying it was not a religious issue but “a common sense issue.”
“I am not opposed to a Chabad building in Guilford,” she said, expressing that the current design is too big for the lot on Goose Lane. “Instead, why don’t they find a nice, large lot?”
Michael Birch of Old Lyme asked, “why this intelligent congregation was trying to shoehorn this building into this little lot?”
The “too small for the lot” opinions were raised despite the fact that Marjorie Shansky, attorney for the Chabad, announced at the start of last week’s public hearing that the size of the building had been reduced by 4,000 square feet. She explained that the architects have pulled the north wall 12 feet in from the neighbor’s yard, adding more lawn space and reducing the size of the storage and classrooms. The building will retain basically the same footprint.
Shansky noted that the building was reduced from 17,000 square feet to 12,700 square feet in order “to show good faith to the neighbors.” She noted that the parking, playground, septic, storm water management, and sanitary plans remain intact.
The occupancy of the social hall was reduced from a capacity of 100 people to 54; the capacity of the worship area remains at 100, said architect Luann Heft of Arbonies King Vlock of Branford.
The reduction in the building’s size did not make a difference for many residents, most of whom still saw a 12,700 square foot building as too big for the 1.3 acre lot.
Elizabeth Schwartz said to the applicant “there are more appropriate places in town where people will open their homes and hearts to you.”
Charles Magby of Stepstone Lane suggested a possible spot to build the Chabad.
“We’ve got an empty space sitting on Route 1–Fonicello’s,” he noted.
HJ
GO Rabbi Yaffe dont let them take you down be strong the Rebbe is surely smiling on your project.
Best of luck.
HJ
Laura
Unbelievable that people would support the Rabbi in destroying Guilford land. The building does NOT meet standard zoning codes and is in a RESIDENTIAL AREA! 13,000 square feet of synagogue/community activity does not belong there! Get the full story and make informed comments!
Truth
THE CHABAD PLAN: MYTH VS. FACT
1) Fact about Goose Lane: This section of Goose Lane is commercial. Drive down Goose Lane and look around the site. Across the street is the largest industrial zone in Guilford. You can see a 63,045 sqf warehouse made of concrete blocks and a 3,286 sqf office building made of similar materials. Behind them stands a 70,080 sqf manufacturing plant with an adjacent 58,260 sqf office building. To the south? A 81,419 sqf hospital, a 5,296 sqf inn currently used as medical offices, a 4,043 sqf medical office, and an office complex with two office buildings of 7,118 and 6,256 sqf. The next property does have two houses on it at this time, but they are zoned commercial! These properties can change to commercial use at any time. To the immediate north? A building belonging to a physician who is the the lead critic of Chabad’s plans. The doctor uses this structure as both her home and office, running a thriving medical practice which, according to her website, has three employees. So is this a meandering country road?
If anything the proposed Chabad is an ideal transition use for our property creating a buffer between the commercial area and the residential neighborhood to the north.
2) Fact about houses of worship in Guilford: Almost every church in Guilford stands in a residential zone. Most are situated on parcels of land with more lot coverage and less parking than the proposed Chabad center. So why all the fuss about Chabad?
3) Fact about special permits: Every house of worship in Guilford needs a special permit, whether they are in a residential or commercial zone. It does not matter if a proposed house of worship will be 200 sqf or 200,000—it needs a special permit. If Chabad had proposed a building on a commercial property, people could complain about lost tax dollars. There will always be someone who wants to complain.
4) Fact about the height of the Chabad center: It will be built into an existing hill. The proposed building complies with Guilford zoning regulations and will not “tower” over other properties. Because it will be built into a hill, the “2nd floor” will be on ground level. People will enter it from the parking lot. The doctor lives at the bottom of the hill, so the existing ranch house also “towers” above her.
5) Fact about traffic at Chabad activities: Most activities take place on weekends and evenings. Most programs will occur after the work day and thus minimally affect traffic. This is a house of worship, not a mall. Cars do not come and go all day and night.
6) Fact about the Chabad property size: The property is two lots with a total of 5.29 acres. Parcel A is 1.28 acres and Parcel B is 4.01 acres with a 2.63 conservation easement. The building will sit on the front parcel with parking extending into the second parcel.
7) Fact about Chabad’s relative silence in the media: We did not want to deal with a zoning issue in the newspapers. We did not want to respond to every letter or article, creating a back-and-forth of all kinds of allegations. Chabad will present this case to the Planning and Zoning Commission because this is a land use decision under the zoning regulations–not a referendum.
http://www.jewishoreline.or…
political correctness
to Laura,
A synagogue belongs in a residential area as it is an integral part of LIVING a religious life not Working a religious life. as per the zoning issue, that is for the appropriate city offices to decide not the neighbors. So it appears that your objection is only because you cannot stomache the free practice of religion if you will require your neighbors to have to go from their residence to a commercial area to worship. Please tell me how many churches are built in Commercial areas as opposed to Residential areas? Stop hiding behind your politically correct statements of ‘I will even stop Taco Bell’ which is clearly a COMMERCIAL enterprise. This country has supposedly seen the end of racism and bigotry as we know it with the election of Obama, however, you and your cohorts clearly show that we still have a long way to go.
what can i say
Laura i agree with you regarding the zoning codes, they can change that, in regards to residential areas in most cities around the oountry you are allwoed to have a synagogue in a residential area.
How about you share with us some facts?
BTW are you Jewish?
Been there
Laura:
Having just completed a Chabad Center in my community with nearly the exact objections from my neighbors, now that the building is up, all the area civic association meetings are in the very building some of them opposed. We actually had one of our biggest opponents write a letter in the newspaper admitting that his fears and phobias were all misplaced and regrettable. This exact scenario has been played out dozens of times and Chabad ultimately succeeds and proves to be a good neighbor and an asset to the neighborhood.