SOUTHINGTON, CT — A prominent religious organization in town has received the official go-ahead from Southington land-use officials to transform its place of worship.
The Connecticut Sikh Association, located at 1610 West St., is planning to transform its two-building temple and headquarters into one, single-story, upgraded facility.
On Oct. 17, in two separate votes, the Southington Planning and Zoning Commission voted to make that happen.
First, the PZC voted 7-0 to grant a religious exemption regarding a special permit to do the work. Then, the PZC voted 7-0 in support of building the expansion via approving the site plan.
To do that, the association must first knock down a two-story, unconnected structure on site and then build a 7,750-square-foot expansion to the single-story building leftover.
The association, which oversees CT Gurdwara Nanak Darbar in Southington, represents the southern Asian religion of Sikhism, which is a monotheistic faith prominent in India and some surrounding nations in that part of the world.
Southington is home to a large Sikh population and those following that faith represent a major component of the community there.
Robert Blanchette, of Borghesi Building & Engineering, Co. Inc., is the listed applicant for the zoning permits, with the Torrington firm responsible for the designs of the new addition.
He was on hand for the continuation of a public hearing on the project Oct. 17.
With no public comment on the proposal that night, the PZC closed the hearing prior to voting.
During the early application/hearing process, there were concerns from neighbors of the temple about potential drainage impacts.
But zoning board members said the temple and neighbors got together and ironed out an understanding, allowing the project to move forward in good faith.
That cooperation pleased PZC members.
“I’m very glad that there was a resolution for the drainage issue. I’m very excited for a continuous, beautiful building that’s going to come out of this,” said Southington PZC alternate Katrina Caird, who was sitting in for an absent member.
Southington PZC Chairman Robert Hammarsley echoed those sentiments.
“This is an example, for anyone who’s paying attention, for how you do it,” Hammarsley said. “You get together and talk to each other. Reach over the fence and have that conversation.”
“I appreciate the effort that was made and the time that was put into this.
“I also appreciate the opportunity for our town to host this temple here and I think its a great thing,” he continued.
“I’m a little bit concerned with the traffic that occurs on West Street, but I do feel like there’s going to be some steps taken by the members of the Sikh temple to try and address that.”
For the minutes of the Oct. 17 Southington Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.
From Oct. 16: ‘Southington Religious Organization Plans Major Building Project’
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