by Frank Schroth

Last night’s Planning Board session was an evening, as one attendee put it, that was remarkable for Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills and remarkable for our town. An incredibly thorough presentation coupled with a demonstration of community solidarity resulted in a positive outcome for the Marvin and Andrea Gordon’s gift of land to Temple Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills. In a unanimous vote, the Planning Board approved a subdivision plan for the property. The Congegation, after years of searching, can now have a new permanent home in Milton.

Chair Whiteside explained the request for the definitive subdivision plan. Marvin and Andrea Gordon own a ~6 acre site that sits between Lodge Street and Gun Hill Street. They propose to divide the property into two lots, one of about 1.665 acres to be gifted to the Temple and be the site of a new synagogue and another of about 4.223 acres to be open space. The property, which is in a residence B zone, needs 100′ frontage. The plan calls for a new road, Shoolman Way, that will provide the necessary frontage. Whiteside emphasized that the board was not approving or disapproving the use of the lot for a temple but simply on the road and whether it conformed to subdivision zoning bylaws.

Ms. Marion McEttrick, the attorney representing the Congregation, lead a team presentation that covered every dimension of the proposed subdivision plan. She was joined by Marvin Gordon, owner of the property, Ada Rosmarin of the Temple’s building committee, and a host of others who spoke about specific aspects of the project and plan.

Rabbi Alfred Benjamin spoke on the value of houses of worship being embedded in residential communities. The synagogue is the “alternate home” for a small but vibrant Jewish community that will use that home to pray, study, and assemble. “When something is important to you, you need it nearby,” he said and he cited the town motto, “God has given us this tranquility,” saying it was not a promise but a challenge.

Lila Rosenbaum and co-President Karen Friedman Hanna, gave a history of the Temple and delivered a petition that had over 1,000 signatures of support. Ms. Rosmarin reviewed the search for a home that included looking at ~50 properties.

Mr. Gordon gave a history of the land, the first property owned by a Jewish family in Milton. It was purchased by his grandparents, Sam and Bertha Shoolman, who the road will be named after. Mr. Gordon, who has a long history of civic engagement (e.g. Board of Selectmen, School Committee, MATV, Fuller Village, Milton Hospital) watched as the Temple searched for a home and stepped in to help. He said the Temple needs to remain in Milton as “it is important for the overall diversity and quality of life. This theme would be echoed later in the evening by many speakers.

Ms. Rosmarin went over the general specifications of the building and its anticipated use. It will be a two story structure with a  ~6,000 sq ft footprint. There will be no bingo or schooling other than Hebrew studies. (The Temple has housed a 3rd party pre-school at the their previous location). Lighting will be controlled and an easement will allow for construction equipment to access the property from Gun Hill rather than Lodge Street.

Ms McEttrick said that proposal conformed to all aspects of zoning with the exception of 5 waivers that were being requested to create a design that would provide Shoolman Way with an aesthetic that is in keeping with the neighborhood’s character. These waivers included 1) reducing width of way from 32′ to 18′ 2) putting sidewalks on only one side of the way 3) waiving a requirement for granite curbing 4) revising the tree lawn width and 5) slightly adjusting the angle of the intersection from 90 degrees to 94 degrees.

In addition, traffic impacts, neighborhood impacts, lighting design, landscape design, safety concerns and drainage were all addressed and discussed. It was an exhaustive review.

And then the residents spoke, about twenty in all. Here is a brief sample:

Rev Jeff Johnson of First Congregational Church said, “We think there is a lot at stake here. We know how fragile religious communities can be .  .  . [The Temple’s presence] is hard to measure and tough to prove but it matters .  .  . they matter. ”

Former Selectman John Michael Shields said, “I have never been to a meeting like this where things looked so smooth. This is a wonderful, wonderful thing for our town.”

Former Selectman and long-time Town Clerk James Mullen said, “No one dislikes change any more than me .  .  . St. Mary’s is in a residential neighborhood and has no parking except for the pastor .  .  . it has been there for 81 years .  .  . the placement of the Temple should be greeted in the same manner.”

Brian Walsh, Town Moderator, said, “Our community is only as strong as the diversity of its makeup. If we don’t step forward to [support the temple] this community as a whole is something less.”

Aileen Kenney a Lodge street resident said, the neighbors had concerns. “The Temple further refined their plans to meet those concerns. [You] should approve the plan.”

And there was Chris Stone, another resident of Lodge Street, who had in the past voiced opposition to the entrance to the Temple coming off Lodge Street. He said he did not want to “rain on the good feeling” and did not “expect to be applauded” but that he remained very concerned about the volume and speed of traffic on his street. He said “some concerns still exist .  .  . but we have faith those concerns will be addressed.” He, like all the speakers, was applauded by the assembled.

The board closed the hearing and took a vote on the waivers and the subdivision. Both votes passed unanimously. The congregants cheered. There was much joy in the room.

It was a unique hearing. Rarely does the board hear and approve a plan in a single session. The Gordons’ generous gift, the hard work of the Temple’s development team, the willingness of the neighbors and congregants to talk and exercise flexibility, and an outpouring of town-wide support flowed together into an outcome that is a testament to the character of the town.