Proposed expansion of temple causes divide
 |
| A rendering of the architectural changes planned at the Sikh Religious Society in Palatine. (Sept. 15, 2010) |
Sept. 24, 2010: Like many fledgling religious communities, the beginnings of what became the Sikh Religious Society in Palatine were modest.
A small group of Sikhs who were putting down roots in the north and west suburbs of Chicago in the late 1960s and early 1970s — mostly Indian immigrants — formed a community, meeting at first in one another's homes. Later, they rented space from the Lombard Park District for Sunday worship.
As its membership grew, the group eventually cobbled together enough money to buy land in what was then unincorporated Cook County, just outside Palatine. A few years later, in 1979, the temple, or gurdwara, opened on the property at 1280 Winnetka St.
Thirty years, several expansions and an annexation later, the temple is now a part of a 10-acre Sikh compound, and the congregation's membership has grown to several thousand families, according to society officials.
Yet as the congregation embarks on the next big step in its evolution — another expansion and the addition of a large gold dome atop the house of worship — the Sikhs, and the temple's neighbors, are feeling growing pains.
The dome's significance is more aesthetic than spiritual, temple members say, but they want their building to resemble more closely the architecture of most Sikh houses of worship and to announce its purpose more proudly.
The dome "kind of symbolizes Sikh architecture. It's more like an iconic thing," said Rajinger Singh Mago, a Wayne resident who has been a member of the Sikh Religious Society since the temple opened. "I've heard some comments that the building (now) looks like a restaurant."
But to some residents of the homes that have been built up around the temple since it opened, that's exactly the point. They want it to blend into its surroundings, not stand out.
Several of those residents raised objections to plans for a dome, saying, as neighbor David Hairlich did by e-mail to village officials, that it "will not be in keeping with the neighborhood aesthetics." Others worried that the dome would hurt home values or resale prospects.
Some detractors complained about the raised property's appearance, citing construction debris, a rusty fence, lack of lawn care and removal of trees from the property. Temple officials vowed to be more responsive to such concerns.
But the dome has been the main point of contention. When they proposed to the village, before current Mayor Jim Schwantz took office, the Sikhs were told the dome wouldn't be allowed at all, said Satnam Aulakh, a former temple trustee. He said village officials soon reversed that stance but said the dome would have to meet village codes.
When formal plans were submitted, they called for the dome to be 46 feet at its highest point. But according to local zoning laws, the maximum allowable height without a special exemption is 40 feet — the same limit that would apply to a church steeple, village officials noted.
Also of issue to some residents was that the dome would be illuminated on special occasions.
"I don't have a problem with the Sikh temple. They are nice people," said neighbor John Siegmeier. "I just don't want a huge illuminated dome in my neighborhood. … I don't want it at all."
In response to such concerns, the village Zoning Board voted last month against the project and sent it to the Village Council without a recommendation.
Village Councilman Aaron Del Mar said he had received e-mail messages from 11 residents opposing the dome design. Councilman Scott Lamerand said the height of the dome should not overwhelm the neighborhood.
Temple officials' redesign proposed a dome in line with the 40-foot village limit.
Temple spokesman Harkirat Sandhu called the setback "very hard" and said the temple is now working with its architect on a redesign.
Members of the Sikh community hope the construction of the dome will be another opportunity to understand the surrounding community better and vice versa.
Mago said that over the years, the Sikh society has embarked on outreach and public relations efforts but that mutual understanding is an ongoing process.
Sikhism, the world's fifth-largest organized religion, is monotheistic and stresses meditation, reading of scripture, a rejection of the Indian caste hierarchy, and the teaching of the religion's 15th century founder and 10 successive gurus. In the U.S., particularly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Sikhs often have been mistaken for Muslims, mainly because Sikh men traditionally wear turbans.
"Some people who've never been to a Sikh worship have no idea. Are they sacrificing goats in there? Practicing Voodoo?" Mago said. "Sometimes, some new people come (into the neighborhood) and they don't know. It's kind of ignorance on their part and not enough outreach on our part."
But Mago said that in general, neighbors have been very welcoming and that the temple has tried to reciprocate with open houses, invitations to visit and interfaith events.
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune