The Buddhist organization SGI-USA (Soka Gakkai International) is proposing to adaptively reuse a building at 409 Fishkill Ave. in Beacon for religious assembly. The building has been used by Healey Brothers for its Mitsubishi car dealership. Healey handles about 10 automotive brand names at various facilities. SGI-USA would rent the building and does not plan to increase its size.
SGI-USA describes itself as part of a global community-based network of more than 11 million people in 192 countries and territories that practice the philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism, which is centered on respect for the dignity of life. In the U.S., SGI-USA has about 90 Buddhist centers where approximately 2,500 meetings are held each month.
SGI-USA says that it would use the Fishkill Avenue building for gatherings of up to 200 people. It says that most meetings would be attended by 50 to 100 people and a larger gathering of up to 200 people would be held once a month on a Sunday morning.
Proposed improvements to the parking areas will provide a total of 50 parking spaces on the site, including two ADA accessible parking spaces. Additional improvements include architectural alterations to the building facade, a new sidewalk around the existing building, reduction in paved areas, elimination of existing site entry points on Conklin Street and Fishkill Avenue, new lighting, and additional landscaping. The facility would operate Monday through Wednesday between 6p.m. and 9p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays between 7a.m. and 6p.m.
A traffic study concluded that the adaptive reuse would not significantly affect traffic conditions in the area. The traffic consultant noted that under Beacon’s zoning a total of 50 parking spaces would be required onsite and the proposal meets the zoning requirement.
