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By Kent Larsen
White Plains Temple Presentation Attracts Opponents
HARRISON, NEW YORK -- A Town Board meeting yesterday attracted more than 80
neighbors of the LDS Church's proposed White Plains Temple as
representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presented
plans for the use of the building. Most of the neighbors present opposed the
building, fearing that it will increase traffic and claiming it is "out of
scale" with the character of the neighborhood. Church representatives tried
to assure the Board that the building is only used for special occasions and
for rituals and has already been reduced in size to address neighbor's
concerns.
The proposed Temple will sit on a 24-acre site near the intersection of
I-287 and I-684 on the southwest corner of Kenilworth road and Westchester
Avenue (which parallel's I-287), but will be set back from Kenilworth road,
a residential street, and be screened from the neighbors by tall trees.
Recognizing traffic problems on Kenilworth road, the LDS Church has proposed
that traffic from the Temple be routed onto Westchester Avenue, but allows
some traffic to exit onto Kenilworth Road, but only if headed north.
But neighbors object to any additional traffic on Kenilworth Road, and worry
that Temple traffic will find the road regardless. They say that Kenilworth
is already overburdened and has been the scene of many accidents, "Until you
finish and correct the traffic problem now, how can you even think about
adding one more car to Kenilworth Road?" says Bernard Rosenshein, who lives
across the street from the Church's property and says he currently has
trouble getting out of his driveway.
Other neighbors object to the building's size, saying that even the reduced
height is too large for the neighborhood. "Why must it be a monstrosity?"
said neighbor John Dearie. "What they want is a huge edifice. They want an
outdoor advertising billboard and be damned what the impact is on the
community." He suggests that the Church build a shorter building that covers
more land area on the property.
A third objection comes from residents who have seen the LDS Temples in
Washington DC and San Diego, California and who worry that the Temple
lighting will affect the neighborhood. Michael Divney, a planner for the
Church, told the Board that the outdoor lighting had been reduced
significantly and would be turned off after 10:30 pm. But some residents
still fear this will be too bright, "It's going to light up the night, and
it's going to change the quality of life in the neighborhood," said resident
Kim Goldsmith.
The Church is asking the Harrison Town Board for a "special exception"
permit that covers how the Temple will be used. The permit is the final
requirement necessary for the Temple, following the already-obtained
approval of the Harrison Planning Board, and a still-in-dispute zoning
variance from the Harrison Zoning Board of Appeals. When the Zoning Board of
Appeals turned down the application, the Church went to acting state Supreme
Court Justice Peter Leavitt, who overruled the board, ordering it to grant
the variance. [In New York State, the Supreme Court is not the highest level
in the court system. It is a trial court, and its decisions can be appealed
to an appellate division, and then to the Court of Appeals, the state's
highest court.] In April, the town filed an appeal of Leavitt's decision,
which has not yet been heard.
According to Town Supervisor Ronald Bianchi, the Board will look at the
record from the Harrison Planning Board and from the Harrison Zoning Board
of Appeals before it reaches its decision. Bianchi said earlier that he had
already reviewed those records, but had not yet reached an opinion on the
application.
Source:
Neighbors pack meeting to oppose Mormon temple
Westchester co NY Journal News 12Jun01 D1
By David Novich: The Journal News
See also:
Harrison NY Appeals Decision Favoring Temple
Harrison Temple Gets Judge's Blessing
Proposed White Plains Temple Loses Zoning Decision
White Plains New York Controversy Makes Local News
LDS Leaders Request Fast For New York Temple
White Plains Temple Opposition Intensifies
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