Planning commission approves 90-foot Jewel Palace Temple, certifies environmental study

The West Sacramento Planning Commission voted Aug. 21 to approve a conditional use permit and design review to allow a 90-foot temple building, known as the Jewel Palace Temple, at 1029 West Capitol Avenue.

City planning staff presented the project and the environmental review. Staff said the application requested an exception to the central business district height limit (65 feet) so the temple roof could reach 90 feet. According to the staff presentation, the site is roughly 1.4 acres and lies within West Capitol Avenue’s design guidelines and the Downtown Entertainment District. Staff said Dudek prepared visual simulations and that the project’s initial study with a mitigated negative declaration found no significant, unmitigable environmental impacts.

“We’re requesting a public hearing and taking public comment and certifying the environmental document, which is an initial study mitigated negative declaration,” staff said during the presentation. Staff also described a transportation management plan that relies on off-site parking and shuttles for roughly two large annual events of about 2,000 attendees.

Diane Kinderman, the project’s attorney, told the commission the proposal met five key criteria for approval, including consistency with the general plan and zoning, compatibility with the downtown entertainment district, and expected economic benefits from visiting attendees. Architect Paul Gumminger noted the design traces to concepts developed in the early 1990s and incorporates traditional temple elements. “The design is based historically on temples that go back many centuries,” Gumminger said.

Representatives from the Dhamma Realm Buddhist Association emphasized community programming already on the campus, including a K–12 school and free vegan meals offered to the public. Dharma Master Gui said the project would “create a harmonious space within the city, attract people from all over the world, making West Sacramento a must-visit destination, and bringing prosperity to West Sacramento.”

After public presentations and commissioner questions about visual impacts and zoning overlays, the commission closed public comment. A motion to approve staff’s recommendation — to certify the IS/MND and adopt Resolution 25-10 PC approving the conditional use permit and design review for the 90-foot temple — was moved and seconded. The roll call recorded in the transcript shows multiple aye votes and one abstention; staff announced the recommendation passed.

An appeal may be filed with the city clerk within 15 days of the commission’s action, accompanied by the appropriate filing fee. The city will move forward with project implementation steps consistent with the approved design review and any conditions in Resolution 25-10 PC.

Provenance: Topic introduced at SEG 052; related discussion/conclusion through SEG 691.