After months of at times tense deliberation, Buddhists in Toledo, Ohio, have been given permission to begin construction of a new temple. Toledo City Council voted 11:1 earlier this month to approve construction of a 750-square-meter facility in what is currently a purely residential neighborhood. Officials had delayed approval due to the concerns of neighborhood residents. Work clearing the way for the new temple has begun.

After plans for the temple were unveiled in February, area resident Brenda Watkins said, “This has been a quiet neighborhood and we’re just not ready for it. We don’t want it regardless of what religion they are, that’s not our concern. Our concern is we don’t want the traffic flow.” (13abc)

Michael Leizerman, who owns the land and plans to donate it to the temple, sought to reassure residents by noting that the temple would be 30 meters into the woods and thus out of sight from most on the quiet street, and that no more than 30 cars would use the road during temple activities. He said at the time that he had checked with the planning commission to make sure that the area was zoned for religious buildings and it was.

“We looked at this beautiful property and thought Zen Temple in Toledo is on a lease, wouldn’t it be nice for it to have a permanent home that is quiet and in the woods?” said Liezerman. (13abc)

Councilman Tyrone Riley, who represents the district where the temple will be built, was the only councilman to vote against the temple. Riley noted that area residents “were seeking to preserve and protect and maintain the integrity of their neighborhood.” (Toledo Blade)