The Umiya Mataji Sanstha Chicago Midwest has done all the right the right things in hopes of building a temple, community center and homes in Elgin, according to their attorney John Mauck, of Chicago law firm Mauck & Baker.
"They spent several years obtaining the land---it's 34 acres---and going through the traditional regulations, and they reduced the scope of their project to make the neighbors happy," Mauck said.
"They had public hearings, and they finally got full approval by the City Council after everybody had a chance to weigh in," he added.
However, a 1967 court order by the Cook County Circuit Court restricts the use of the land in Elgin for industrial purposes, and allows any of 300 people living near the purchased land to prohibit the Hindu group building there.
Umiya Mataji Sanstha Chicago Midwest is suing to have that order removed.
Mauck says his clients want the same freedoms that all Americans do.
They want to live together in harmony with their neighbors, and they want to live together to preserve their own religion
and their own community," he concluded.
