A Hindu temple that plans to expand its West Elmira campus will have to take an extra step in the approval process for the project, which has drawn criticism from area residents about the potential negative impact on the mostly residential neighborhood.
The Bhakti Marga neo-Hindu organization, based in Germany, purchased the former Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church at 1100 W. Water St. in 2022 and reopened as Paranitya Narasimha Temple in September 2023.
The organization earlier this year submitted plans to the Town of Elmira Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals seeking approval to expand its campus to provide, among other things, temporary housing for visitors from around the world for various functions.
The Zoning Board of Appeals granted several variances for aspects of the project that don’t meet current zoning regulations, but site plans still need approval from the Planning Board.
At a meeting Monday, Sept. 9, after reviewing a short form State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) performed by the applicants, the board determined the project would likely have a moderate to large environmental impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
As a result, the Planning Board directed Bhakti Marga to conduct a full SEQR study before the project can move forward.
“I feel this is a temporary victory,” said Noreen Dieg of West Clinton Street, a vocal critic of the temple expansion who fears it will lead to more traffic congestion, noise, and light in the otherwise quiet neighborhood.
“One board member brought up a great point. The comparisons to the days when the school was open, a few nuns lived in the convent, and Lourdes had a full congregation are long gone,” Dieg said. “There are many more houses and townhomes built in the area since Lourdes was in its heyday.”
Bhakti Marga’s plans include renovation and additions to a former elementary school on Demarest Parkway, including adaptive reuse of the existing structure to create a new community center — which includes an auditorium, cafeteria and kitchen, religious shop, and transient guest accommodations.
Temple officials, who say they strive to be good neighbors and believe the residents who have openly opposed the expansion are a vocal minority, add they have worked closely with town officials every step of the way and are happy to comply with the latest requirement.
“We understand and respect where they are coming from,” said Swami Tulsidas, swami for Bhakti Marga North America, who was at Monday night’s meeting. “We are working to see how to move forward. (The SEQR requirement) is completely understandable and we will do what is necessary.”
For more information, and to review site plans submitted to the Planning Board by Bhakti Marga, go to townofelmira.gov/postcategory.php?c=PlanningBoard.
Follow Jeff Murray on X (Twitter) @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Town of Elmira Planning Board orders full environmental review of Hindu temple expansion
Reporting by Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
