Flower Mound Town Council unanimously approved a site plan and tree removal permit for the proposed temple by a 4-0 vote at the July 7 meeting. Council member Brian Taylor was absent from the meeting.
“The new building will provide a place for families to gather and [children] to learn the values of our heritage,” said Dr. Ravi Siripurapu, a member of the temple.
What you need to know
The site plan approval includes two exceptions: one for a flat roof of the temple and another to waive a landscape buffer requirement for the proposed location of a 26-foot fire lane to access the property. Jason Kilpatrick, an engineering representative for the project from civil engineering firm Ridinger Associates, said there will be a 25-foot landscaping buffer along the eastern portion of the property.
Without the exception for the access drive, the property could not be accessed.
“The exceptions we requested are not extraordinary,” Dr. Siripurapu said. “We were forced to make some and the other was faith-based.”
The proposed location of the temple will be built in two phases on undeveloped land near Flower Mound High School. The first phase includes the temple building that will total 9,145 square feet, according to town documents, and also includes 87 parking spaces. Director of Development Services Lexin Murphy said the second phase is mainly for architectural flourishes for the building.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for the exceptions and tree removal permit at its June 23 meeting.
Diving deeper
The design of the temple, including the flat roof and the addition of two rooftop design elements, vimanas, are outlined in Hindu scripture, Kilpatrick said.
Sandeep Sharma, a member of the temple, said the proposed operating hours for the temple would be 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, which are the same hours the temple uses at its current location at 3325 Long Prairie Road.
Ravi Kommera, another member of the temple, said the average time spent in the temple is 20 minutes and many members come and go as they please.
What they’re saying
Nearby residents, including Vincent Gallo, who live in a neighborhood located off Walnut Grove Place, raised concerns about noise, traffic and the fit with nearby residences given there is no landscape buffer.
“There are other locations in Flower Mound that would be a better fit for the temple and the residents who are immediately adjacent to this structure,” he said.
Gallo added that he was willing to purchase the property for $800,000, but temple officials said that was not feasible.
Council member Adam Schiestel said that while concerns of the nearby property owners are valid, the use of the temple is compatible with the property, so council has to base their decision on the requested exceptions.
“Our standards require a 25-foot buffer between the driveway and the homes,” Schiestel said. “However, we are not allowed to deny someone the reasonable use of their property.”
Looking ahead
Temple officials will spend the remainder of 2025 preparing the land for the new temple and acquiring necessary permits, Sharma said. The first phase is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, he added.
