Hindu Temple Proposal

The residential neighborhood in question is insulated from the traffic, noise and congestion of the three other churches on Pioneer Boulevard by only one large piece of residential property. That is the very property upon which the Hindu Temple proponents wished to construct their church. Thus, the construction of a large, heavily attended church on that particular parcel would directly and adversely affect the lives and property values of the local residents while the other neighborhood churches did not.

How do the nearby residents as well as the city fathers know that this would be a heavily attended church? Because the leaders proposed to build 92 on-site parking spaces while admitting that they also approached the leaders of the other three churches on Pioneer Boulevard to request of the use of their parking lots as well.

Norwalk has one other, much smaller Hindu temple. Had you listened to the testimony before the Norwalk City Council, you would have heard evidence of the effect of visiting swamis. Major traffic and parking problems involving thousands of the faithful. Unlike your example of the Pope visiting a Catholic church, swamis and prominent Hindu priests visit temples on a regular basis, causing such crowds. Is this wrong? Of course not! Is this wrong in a quiet residential neighborhood? You bet!

STEPHEN WOOD, Norwalk