City council approves 500-person Hindu temple in northeast Calgary

Calgary city council voted 14-1 Tuesday to approve a land-use application for a 500-person Hindu temple in northeast Calgary, defying city planning staff's recommendation to reject the project.

Ward 2 Councillor Jennifer Wyness cast the sole dissenting vote. The approval followed a public hearing late Tuesday evening. City planning staff had argued the permanent place of worship would contravene the city's municipal development plan and intermunicipal development plan with Rocky View County, which calls for protecting future greenfield areas from "premature" development. Planners also noted the site at 10717R 84th Street N.E. — 1.89 hectares just east of Stoney Trail, across from Cornerstone neighbourhood — currently has no city services including water, sanitary, or stormwater infrastructure.

Radha Madhav Cultural Association, also known as ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), plans to build the facility with space for community events and educational programming. The project carries an $8 million estimated cost. The association has secured $3 million through disposing of equity in its current property and city and government grants, and is fundraising the remaining $5 million.

"We are very grateful to the council to address it and come forward to give us confidence in moving ahead with the project," said Atma Ram Das, president of Radha Madhav Cultural Association. The site currently contains a single detached dwelling, detached garage, and a 45.7-metre-high telecommunications tower. Access is via private gravel road on an adjacent parcel to the east, connecting to 84th Street N.E.; direct access from Stoney Trail N.E. is prohibited.