At its June 25 meeting, the Cherry Hill Zoning Board unanimously approved expansions to a Hindu temple–the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir temple–that sits off Springdale Road in Cherry Hill.
The additions include 18,330 additional square feet to the current 65,650 square foot religious sanctuary and cultural center, 18 additional parking spaces in parking lot, and interior renovations.
Most of the additional square footage, 15,350, comes from a second story for a proposed gym and classroom, while the remaining 2,980 is for a new lobby.
The temple is also planning on adding a shikhara to the top of the temple. Shikharas are spires that tend to go on top of Hindu temples.
The applicant’s attorney, Damien Del Duca, said that applicant hopes to make it look less like a warehouse, which it originally was, and more like a place of worship.
The applicant needed several variances to allow the expansion to go forward, including for the shikharas, which would exceed the township’s height limit.
The temple has been operating since 2003.
Riya Patel, who serves as a volunteer youth coordinator for the temple, said she had grown up with the temple, learned how to speak her native language, Gujarati, and connected with her community.
A mockup of what the new facade will look like submitted by the temple as part of their application.
Deepak Chhatwal who gave public comment at the meeting, spoke in favor of the project.
“I’m very happy that there’ll be an organization and a space where I can express my religious freedoms,” Chhatwal said. “And there will be a better space for myself and my family and other neighbors who are practicing the Hindu faith.”
Another public commentor, Jenn DeMarco, who lives near the temple, said in a prepared statement that the temple has violated numerous ordinances, including improperly cutting down trees and putting up a basketball court in a wetland.
“Their community has negatively impacted the direct neighbors next to their property because they tend not to follow the ordinances and rules … they are not responsibly maintaining their property and they do not follow your regulations,” DeMarco said. “It’s just a matter of formality that they’re asking for your permission, because they’ll do it anyway.”
Jonathan Radin, chairman of the zoning board, said that there cannot be any outstanding issues with the applicant, as they could not be before the board if they had any open violations.
Jacob Richman, the zoning board secretary, said that while there were issues with the temple improperly removing trees in 2012, the temple has since satisfied the township by replacing the trees that were removed.
Del Duca said, in addressing DeMarco’s comments, that they can’t deny the applicant just because they don’t like what the temple will look like.
“The underlying concern from the DeMarcos, from where I sit, seems to be that they don’t want to look at the facade changes that we’re proposing,” Del Duca said. “That also is not a basis for denial. The relief that we need is really limited to three shikharas on the left and the towers and circular area on the right which are 428 from the DeMarco’s property line or more.”
He also said that another company could use the property with a “much more intense use,” and be closer to DeMarco’s property.
DeMarco said she does not want the temple to leave, but that she’s concerned about its impact on the surrounding wetlands.
“To be honest, I know that this is going to go through. I know that we’re going to have a bigger structure,” DeMarco said. “What I’m concerned about is the wetlands. Our backyard already floods … it’s going to [create] a big impact on houses there.”
Radin said he agrees with DeMarco on the issue of wetlands. Additionally, he does not want what occurred in 2012 to happen again. He asserts that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will do a thorough check of the property before it gets approved.
Jody DeMarco also spoke against the application, saying that the project shouldn’t be approved because the documents submitted don’t have the correct calculations.
Another public commenter, Martha Wright, voiced concerns about lighting on the shikharas.
Aavart Patel, who prepared architectural drawings for the project, said that the shikharas would not be lit all the time and would be timed to turn off once services are over around 8:30 p.m.
The conditions for approval include obtaining approval various agencies, like the (DEP), complying with a review letter from the Cherry Hill Fire Department, only letting the gym be used by those of the congregation, add any proposed lighting and comply with open space ordinances.
Zoning board solicitor Sandy Zeller said that if they don’t meet the open space requirements, the applicant will need to come back to the board or revise their plans to be in compliance.
Del Duca said they agree with all the stipulations.
Board member Greg Bruno said he was in favor of the application and he hopes the temple will listen to resident concerns about lighting.
And while there are concerns, Radin said he doesn’t think the additions will disrupt the neighbors.
“I hear the neighbors and what their concerns are,” Radin said. “I’ve been doing this long enough to know that this is not, even with the entrance being where it is and facing the residence and all that, I think that makes sense here in this case. But, we are allowed to, and should consider, what can go into this space. If it’s not occupied with this congregation then they can build a warehouse 30 feet from your backyards.”
The front entrance to the temple as it exists today.
