HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLAN COMMISSION - 10/22/1986 - MANAV SEVA MANDIR/SPEC USE Minutes
ELK GROVE VILLAGE PLAN COMMISSION
Dote: October 11, 1986
Members Present: Members Absent:
John Gloss, Chairman None
Leoh Cummins
Clark Fulton
Fred Geinosky
David Poligonoff
George Mullen
Staff Present: Audience: Approx. 175
Robin Weaver
Earle Krocht
Chuck Henrici
The continuation of the public hearing from October 15, 1986 on
Docket 86-11 was opened of 8:22 p.m.
MANAV SEVA MANDIR, INC. SPECIAL USE PETITION
(Mork Hopkins School)
• Chairman Gloss, due to the large size of the audience, identified
exits and uniformed personnel. He then exp/oined the purpose
and functions of the Plan Commission.
Fred Geinosky acknowledged Plan Commission receipt of on
hour by hour parking lot estimated use. He asked about attendance
at special functions such as baptisms and weddings. Mr. Suresh Mehto,
President of Monov.Sevo Mondir (MSM), responded that only thirty
to forty people usually attend those and that receptions afterward
would not take place there. The calculation of the capacity of
the worship room (current gymnasium) was questioned. The re-
sponse was that the organization would abide by Village codes and
that sufficient off-street parking for their peak usage is already
present.
According to the petitioner's attorney, Randy Given, there ore six
holy days each year. The ceremony for each losts three to four
hours except the one in August. That one lasts from 10 - 72 p.m.
and it is estimated that attendance at it would be no greater than
240 people. Each of the other holy days would gather between
740 and 210 people.
Geinosky asked if MSM would permit any temporary housing of
the center. Mr. Arvind Modi, Secretory of MSM and their civil
engineer replied that no all-night shelter would be granted. An
• occasional visiting postor would stay overnight as well as the
resident postor and family.
cont'd.....
Page 2
When queried, Mr. Modi explained that there are six Hindu
temple facilities in the area: Aurora, Chicago, Palatine,
Hyde Pork, Glen Ellyn and Lemont (under construction).
The petitioner volunteered to post signs in each parking
lot to restrict traffic from "cutting through" the neighborhood
(i.e., vehicles exiting from the north lot would hove to go
north to Ookton and traffic from the south lot would hove
to go south to Londmeier Road).
Concerns about the noise level from dance and music
classes were raised by Geinosky. Mr. Given noted that,
the maximum class size would be twenty persons and that
in consideration of the concern, those classes would be
held in on area of the school on the east side, closest to the
Commonwealth Edison right-of-way. The floor pion hod
shown music and donce classes on the west side, closer to
the street.
Lech Cummins sought information with respect to the
original bid to the school district and the current bid. She
• requested on explanation for MSM's original first bid request
of 200 additional parking spaces. Mr. Modi explained that
originally they felt a total of 200 spaces (140 additional)
would be needed. However, the size of the group has
diminished especially as the Aurora facility on 18 acres
hos been built (in on 8 month period), the Lemont facility
is almost completed(as it was under construction for ten
years MSM did not feel it was ever going to be completed)
and another temple is planned for Bloomingdale on a fifteen
ocre site. The other facilities ore very large, have full
kitchens and are built according to Hindu holy books.
Mrs. Cummins questioned MSM's decision to purchase a
building as large as Mork Hopkins School if a smaller group
is expected. Mr. Modi replied that the decision was based
on the price and its availability.
Mrs. Cummins stated that she felt it was outrageous to
locate a center on a street like Shodywood. She stated
that when residents bought their homes they expected
school use - daytime, few evenings and low traffic.
9:30 - 9:45 p.m. break
An October 17, 1986 Doily Herold article by Tim Kone was
shown to Mr. Mehto by Mrs. Cummins. She asked if it was
• correct. The response was no, that MSM has no financial
difficulties, the extension requests were based on zoning
approval and that there hove not been three extensions,
but only two.
r
Page 3
In response to on inquiry Mr. Mehta said that MSM does
not seek to convert others to their faith. The worship
services ore in Gujarati, the native tongue of people
from the gujorot state in Indio. Therefore, others,
including other Hindus, would not core to come to
their services.
The public hearing was opened up for members of the
audience to address the Plan Commission.
A petition signed by 147 residents was presented which
was against the proposed center based on traffic,
parking and overcrowding of the neighborhood. Con-
cerns were also voiced about: growth of the organ-
ization, the Village's ability to "pull" the special use
permit later, membership living currently (and future)
in Elk Grove; believability of expert land appraiser
and land planners who do not live in the area and who
are paid by the petitioners, outside activities (none
per Mr. Mehto), supervision of children; catered
• receptions and food consumption in the building;
emergency vehicle access if there is parking on both
sides of the street; existing excessive traffic; and
concern with flooding of area.
Two members of the audience accused the petitioners
of abuse of rental facilities at the Mt. Prospect Park
District and the Des Plaines Park District. The
petitioner denied use of Mt. Prospect facilities and
denied abuses at Des Plaines facilities.
At 11:10 p.m. the meeting was convened until 8:00 p.m. October 19,
1986.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin A. Weaver
Administrative Assistant
pp
c: Chairman & Members of Plan Commission, Village President, Board of
Trustees, Village Clerk, Village Manager, Assistant Village Manager,
• Administrative Assistant, Administrative Intern, Building Commissioner,
Village Engineer, Director of Public Works, Fire Chief, Deputy Fire
Chief, Village Attorney, Park District, NWMC, District $59 Jim Fay