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Waterford design review board approves site plan for Congregation Beth El synagogue
Summary
The Waterford Design Review Board on April 7 approved a site plan for a new Congregation Beth El synagogue at 33 Canyon Road after presentations on building design, landscaping and lighting; board members noted neighborhood‑scale materials but asked questions about limited parking and overflow arrangements.
At its April 7, 2024 meeting the Waterford Design Review Board voted to approve a site plan for a new Congregation Beth El synagogue at 33 Canyon Road after presentations from the project architect and landscape architect.
The board heard details from Mike Ott, a professional engineer and land surveyor with Summerhill Civil Engineers, and the project team. "The building, as Mike points out, is very, very, very straightforward," project architect Dave Atkinson said, describing a single‑story structure under 4,000 square feet with a vaulted sanctuary, a commercial kitchen, a rabbi's office and accessible restrooms. Atkinson said exterior materials would include a stone veneer wainscot, neutral vinyl siding and asphalt shingles, and a modest entry portico with a standing‑seam metal roof intended in a dark, subdued finish.
The project's landscape architect, Henry Thomas, said the planting plan prioritizes a residential appearance, buffering for the parking areas and blending with undisturbed wetlands at the rear. "We have chosen not to do that as a singular linear plant type; it will vary, it will have color and fall interest," Thomas said, outlining native and cultivar species, low‑mow and low‑meadow seed mixes, and resilient species such as red‑twig dogwood for areas subject to snow piling.
Board members asked practical questions about systems and operation. One member noted a potential mismatch between seating and parking: "I only count 38 parking spots," the member said, pointing to the plan. Ott replied that an overflow gravel area and a nearby open field could be used for occasional large events and that the congregation expects only one or two such events per year: "They certainly can come off the end of this gravel area and get into this area too," he said. The team also presented an exterior lighting photometric plan showing LED parking luminaires at 3,000 Kelvin, controlled by a photocell and timer to reduce nighttime intrusion.
After discussion the chair called for a motion to accept the plans "as presented." The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote with members responding "aye." The board then approved a correction to the agenda date and the minutes from the February 24 meeting and moved to adjourn.
The approval clears the design review board step for the Congregation Beth El application; the transcript does not specify any remaining permit or building‑department approvals or next scheduled reviews.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve Congregation Beth El site plan ("as presented"): motion made and seconded; motion passed by board voice vote (members voted "aye"). - Motion to correct agenda and approve 02/24 minutes: motion passed by voice vote. - Motion to adjourn: passed by voice vote.
