Tiburon, CA – Neighbors Sue Synagogue over Expansion

Tiburon, CA – The Tiburon synagogue's contentious expansion project is moving from Town Council chambers to the Hall of Justice.

A neighborhood group opposed to the project to expand and renovate Congregation Kol Shofar filed a lawsuit in Marin Superior Court Monday against both the town of Tiburon and the synagogue on grounds of environmental impact and land use violations.

"Serious impacts on health, safety and quality of life caused by inadequate parking combined with increased traffic, noise and light remain unresolved and unmitigated," said Stephan Volker, attorney for the Tiburon Neighborhood Coalition.

In February, the Tiburon Town Council approved construction of a one-story, 8,300-square-foot multipurpose building and a 3,662-square-feet building for four classrooms and a service area. The construction permit included a series of parking regulations and a detailed list of use regulations for the religious center's on-site activities at the 215 Blackfield Drive site.

Last month's move followed several months of public debate, with neighbors citing traffic and noise concerns and Kol Shofar leaders calling the issue a matter of freedom of religion. [Marin Independent-Journal]