Jain Bhavan Southern California

Author(s): Jain Center Southern California
Publisher: USA Jain Center Southern California

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PROGRESS AND STATUS
As mentioned earlier, the proposed plans for the expansion and renovation of our present Jain Bhavan were first introduced to our community during the 1998 Paryushan program. Since then, several major milestones have been accomplished towards our goal of constructing a new Jain Bhavan. In addition to the architect, we have engaged and utilized the services of several consultants as noted below. Such activities and accomplishments are summarized below:
MEMBERS' FEEDBACK: Based upon the input received from our community members, the project designs have been refined to include various amenities of maximum sizes.
SEWER EASEMENT: A city sewer line passes through our existing temple site and the vacant land. This sewer line easement restricts our expansion project significantly. To address this issue, we retained Gilbert Engineering, Inc. (Civil Engineers) of Cypress to develop conceptual plans to relocate the sewer easement. These plans have been reviewed by the City and have been approved conceptually.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON (SCE) EASEMENT: Following our request, Mr. Al Day of SCE has developed a conceptual plan to relocate their existing overhead cables behind the existing temple site and the vacant land. This would permit us to proceed with our expansion plans as proposed.
GEOTECHNICAL EVALUATION: Lotus Consulting Engineers, Inc. (Geotechnical Engineers) of Laguna Hills have been retained to perform the soil investigation and to conduct the feasibility study of the expansion project. There findings are compiled in a report entitled "Preliminary Geotechnical Exploration and Limited Environmental Evaluation" dated December 18, 1998. Their findings indicate that there is no significant contamination of our vacant land from the adjoining gas station and that the perch water is approximately 14 feet below the existing ground level. The perch water level will fluctuate depending upon weather conditions. The conclusion is that our site is suitable for the proposed expansion.
ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: A joint venture team of L.T.I., Inc. (Mr. Arun Phadnis) of Tustin and Mr. Vaikunt Patel of Laguna Niguel has been retained to design and develop our expansion plans. Both of them have significant expertise in the design of commercial, industrial, and residential buildings, as well as in the design and development of temples and churches. We have developed an extremely well working relationship with this team for our expansion project.
TRAFFIC ANALYSIS: Following a request from the City of Buena Park, we retained Albert Grover & Associates (Traffic Consultants) of Fullerton to conduct a traffic analysis for our project. The results of their onsite investigation and analysis are compiled in a report entitled "Traffic Analysis for the Proposed Expansion of the Jain Center" dated July 1999. Their findings conclude that (1) the proposed expansion will not result in significant traffic impact to the nearby roadway segment and intersection; (2) the proposed expansion will not result in significant parking shortfalls other than during Paryushan celebration; and (3) the proposed expansion provides adequate access to the site and on-site circulation. This traffic analysis report has been submitted to the City of Buena Park and has been well received by the city staff. Mr. Jay Solsburg, Senior Planner and Mr. Bill Barlo, Associate Planner of the City of Buena Park recently joined us on a visit to the Swaminarayan Temple in Whittier to review the use of their facility and related parking issues.
FIRE DEPARTMENT REVIEW: Our proposed expansion plans have been reviewed and approved by the Orange County Fire Authority, who has jurisdiction over the City of Buena Park.
PUBLIC RELATIONS: Ms. Rhonda J. McCune of Buena Park has been retained to act as a liaison between the City of Buena Park and the Jain Center. She has significant past working relationship as well as has served in various capacities with the City of Buena Park as follows: Planning Commission Member (1982-1985); City Council Member (1985-1994); Redevelopment Agency Board Member (1985-1994); and the Mayor (1987-1988 and 1991-1992).
INTERFACE WITH THE CITY OF BUENA PARK: During the past 18 months, we have conducted extensive dialog and made significant progress with the City of Buena Park Planning Director and his staff in conjunction with our expansion project. The City has reviewed all of our current plans and reports, and the Planning Department is very much in favor of supporting the proposed expansion project. We are in the final phase of putting together the required information package for our project in order to submit a formal application for the public hearing. Ultimately, the project will be voted and approved by the City Planning Commissioners and the City Council Members. In order to accommodate all the facilities that we desire, we need to enter into a "Development Agreement" with the City of Buena Park. Such an agreement will allow us to overcome some of the non-compliant zoning and code requirements pertaining to building setbacks, parking shortfalls, and having living quarters on the premises. The "Development Agreement" now under preparation will be applicable only to the currently proposed expansion project.
COST AND SOURCE OF FUNDING
The desired renovation and expansion of the Jain Bhavan will cost between 4 to 5 million dollars and take 12 to 18 months to complete.
Generous financial contributions are needed from ALL the members of our community to complete this noble project. This is a Jain heritage project, which is needed to serve the religious, educational, cultural and social needs of our growing community well into the next millennium. The new Jain Bhavan will be a gift of lasting legacy to our children and to the future generations. In support of a similar project undertaken by the Jain Center of Northern California, H. H. Jin Chandraji Maharaj pointed out that "Contribution, both in monetary and voluntary effort forms, is a unique investment that has absolutely no risk of loosing, and the profits will compound at an increasingly higher rate year after year. Creating a temple does not entail creating a building. It means creating a sanctuary from where Lord Mahavir's message can be learned and delivered to the world. It is a place where all of you can find peace and love. You must involve yourselves in this project to the best of your ability". With the blessing of Lord Mahavir; with the inspiration and guidance of our religious leaders; with the encouragement and help of our learned scholars; and with the generous contributions and involvement of all of our community members, we will make the dream of constructing a new Jain Bhavan a reality. Efforts to build the Jain Bhavan of the New Millennium have already started. Please donate generously so that you too will be proud of your contributions in creating a unique and lasting Jain heritage.