Plans to build a Hindu temple and nearly three dozen townhomes on Route 20 at Galt Boulevard were approved by the Elgin City Council Wednesday night despite objections from neighbors concerned about increased traffic. Umiya Mataji Sastha Chicago Midwest’s mixed-use development calls for an 86,000- square-foot temple no higher than 90 feet, 33 townhouses in five buildings and an 8-acre private recreation area. Plans for the 34-acre property at 890 Galt Blvd. were approved with a 6-3 vote after the council received no recommendation from the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, which was divided in its support for the project. Council members Steve Thoren, Diana Alfaro and Dustin Good voted against the request, with Alfaro citing the property’s single entrance and exit and Thoren concurring with residents on traffic concerns. “I did go over there. I drove it,” Thoren said. “I tried to envision the traffic issues at those intersections. I’m hearing that IDOT even states it’s a ‘delicate infrastructure,’ which was more than obvious to me. It’s already a problem area for traffic. And I am not one to help a traffic problem get worse.” Mayor Dave Kaptain countered that the only way the Illinois Department of Transportation will fix a road or intersection is if a problem exists, not in anticipation of problems from future development. IDOT has been working on a plan for road improvements along Route 20 for a several years but nothing has been finalized. Kaptain said the agency has discussed creating a barrier on Route 20 that would restrict intersection turns and change the flow of traffic in the area. Kaptain said it was his belief that the temple’s prayer schedule will not generate a lot of additional traffic. “There’s a small window of time where traffic control will be needed,” he said, noting that the temple has agreed to hire off-duty police officers to help at those times. “It’s an obligation of the city of Elgin and IDOT to mitigate these problems. We’ll do that.” Overhead view of the 34-acre site at Route 20 and Galt Boulevard in Elgin on which Umiya Mataji Sastha is to build a Hindu temple and 33 townhouses. (Umiya Mataji Sastha) Umiya Mataji Sastha scaled back its plans from when the project was first reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission in June. Originally, there was to be a 231,000-square-foot temple with a maximum height of 125 feet, a recreation center, a four-story, multifamily building with 81 units, and 38 townhomes in six buildings. Temple representatives listened to neighbors’ concerns and made changes, said Peter Bazos, Umiya Mataji Sastha’s attorney. “This should speak volumes as to the character of this petition and allay any concerns,” Bazos said. “The approval of this project will be a great credit to the city and truly demonstrate what a welcoming city Elgin is.” More than 20 speakers, a majority of whom live in the neighboring Oak Ridge and Sherwood Oaks subdivisions, spoke against the proposal. An opposition petition signed by 220 people was presented to the city. Lorne Iverson said his home looks out onto the Lambert Lane/Route 20 intersection, where he has seen numerous accidents, both night and day. “IDOT previously has declared this is a dangerous intersection,” Iverson said. “Today I’d like to ask you to consider this with the temple proposal. To make things safer, we need to address the intersection before we do additional developments.” He understands it’s IDOT’s jurisdiction and decision to make, but “in my opinion, it’s kind of common sense,” he said. Jessica Astrung said her neighborhood was prepared for a general industrial project, which is what the site had been zoned, but not for a development that will draw hundreds of people. IDOT had already described Route 20 near the project site as a “delicate infrastructure,” and that was before the development was proposed, Astrung said. Additionally, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have identified the northwest corner of the property as wetlands, she said. “Your taxpaying constituents don’t want this development built in this location,” and it has nothing to do with religion, Astrung said. Even with the council’s approval, Umiya Mataji Sastha needs to clear one more hurdle before construction can start. A 1967 consent decree limiting land uses will need to be lifted or vacated by a Cook County judge. If that happens, Umiya Mataji Sastha will need city approval for a final subdivision plat. Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. ...read more read less