Buddhist Temple Appeal Progressing In Court

By Andrew Gorosko, The Newtown Bee, June 23, 2005

Newtown, Conneticut (USA) -- Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members learned June 16 that a long-running court battle over the agency's February 2003 rejection of a proposed Buddhist temple and meeting hall at 145 Boggs Hill Road is progressing at Danbury Superior Court.

P&Z Chairman William O'Neil told panel members that Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker spent about three hours on the witness stand in court that week, testifying for the town in the court appeal. Witnesses for the applicant also testified, Mr O'Neil said.

In March 2003, citing religious freedom, as protected by state and federal law, the Cambodian Buddhist Society of Connecticut, Inc, filed an administrative appeal in court in seeking to overturn the P&Z's rejection of the society's controversial proposal to build a 7,600-square-foot Buddhist temple/meeting hall. Through the appeal, the society seeks to have a judge order the P&Z to approve the temple/meeting hall application and cover the society's legal costs.

In February 2003, the P&Z had unanimously rejected the Buddhist society's proposal to build a temple/meeting hall at the society's ten-acre property. In turning down the application in a 5-to-0 vote, P&Z members said the Buddhists' envisioned use of the property, involving increased traffic and noise, would be "far too intense for this particular site." The Buddhist society now has a monastery at the property.

The temple/meeting hall proposal drew heavy opposition from nearby property owners, who listed traffic and noise among their main complaints about the development application.

Besides the Buddhist society, Pong Me of Bristol, who is the society's president, is listed as a plaintiff in the court case. The P&Z is the only defendant named in the case.

Listed as intervenors in the case are nearby residents Richard and Jeanette Coburn, William Leibold, Pamela Ashbahian, Janis and Stuart Opdahl, and Anthony and Christina Russo. The intervenors oppose the temple application.

In February 2004, a judge dismissed an administrative appeal brought by five Boggs Hill Road area residents against the Conservation Commission, challenging the commission's November 2002 issuance of a wetlands permit to the Buddhist society for temple/meeting hall construction.

The plaintiffs in that appeal were Richard and Jeanette Coburn, William Leibold, Pam Ashbahian, and Janis Opdahl.

At the June 16 P&Z session, P&Z members said they would be willing to help the Buddhist society find a "suitable location" for a temple/meeting hall in Newtown. P&Z members have maintained that the Boggs Hill Road neighborhood is not a suitable place for such a facility.

Mr O'Neil said that legal briefs summarizing the town's and the Buddhist society's legal arguments would be filed with a judge in July, after which a decision would be rendered in the case.
We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot
NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.


Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team


Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv


TOP