I agree.

The Use is allowed. The Fire Marshalls Office sets, by Code, the maximum number of persons allowed. Code Enforcement will forward the concern to them for investigation. They do not monitor this website so if further information is required please contact them directly and the Police Department should be contacted directly if unsafe activity with pedestrians is noted. They should be contacted at the time at 678-297-6372

Why do I need to contact the police department when they are RIGHT THERE AND CAN SEE IT WITH THEIR OWN EYES!!!!????

Yes if the Police are onsite they will handle any security and safety issues that arise.

No, they do not, because clearly you are getting complaints over and over again, year after year, about the safety issues. i.e.: the jay walking issues “when there is a crosswalk at the light”, and the firework issues, that it gets so smoky that you cannot drive on Cumming Street, and the police were on site during the firework issue, because my wife confronted one of the officers, and he was overwhelmed.

Not everyone is complaining. I also live in the neighborhood. It may be that the same person is complaining over and over, creating a lot of noise. Between October 15–23, there is a Hindu holiday called Navaratri which is a nine-day long celebration. Complaining about crowds coming to temple during holiday, it is like complaining that people are coming to church during Christmas.

I agree completely with this post. It is truly a real-life game a Frogger. Sometimes the Police and there and other times they are not. Jaywalking is the normal and someone is going to get hurt. I don’t know why they can’t cross at the light WITH the crosswalk. Makes no sense to do anything different in 35 mile per hour zone. This type of situation is happening all too frequently and it is getting old ( and very dangerous ).

I live in the area and see it A LOT. Anyone that doesn’t recognize this has a problem doesn’t get out much.

The church has definitely outgrown this space. They need to relocate. The city needs to buy the lot and turn it into green space or a park.

Perhaps instead of utilizing the Manning Oaks Elementary parking, a better solution would be to use a lot across Henderson Pkwy, next to Fiserv. This would redirect foot traffic to the less-used part of the intersection during holidays, such as Navaratri, which is observed this week, or the upcoming Divali on November 12.

On the matter of parking at the Fiserv facility or the school, while both entities are aware that their property is being used by those attending services and/or events at the Hanuman Mandir Temple, neither the company nor Fulton County Schools has expressed concern over that use of their property. Such shared use of parking is quite common throughout the community. In fact, parishioners of Alpharetta First Baptist Church have long used property owned by the City for parking to attend services.

Regarding attendees at Hanuman Mandir services and events crossing the street outside of a marked crosswalk, this does not represent a violation of law. Under Georgia law, a pedestrian may legally cross a public road outside of a crosswalk or intersection, the rules are just different than what applies if they do so using a marked crosswalk. When a pedestrian crosses the road in a marked crosswalk, drivers must stop and yield the right-of-way to the pedestrian. When a pedestrian crosses the road at a point other than within a marked crosswalk, the pedestrian must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles unless the pedestrian has already entered the roadway. While it is certainly the City’s preference and recommendation that pedestrians cross the street only in marked crosswalks, they are not legally required to do so.

Finally, while the number of attendees attending services and events at Hanuman Mandir has certainly increased since its opening, our Fire Marshal has not observed the approved safe capacity of the facility being exceeded.

We certainly understand the impacts and inconveniences that can accompany a religious facility being located near one's home. Many Alpharetta residents live close to houses of faith across our community, and there are certainly occasions when they are inconvenienced by activities at the facility or when they have observed a pedestrian or motorist accessing or leaving the facility do something that they felt was unsafe. It does not, however, make those activities or behaviors illegal or something in which a local government can or should intervene.

Religious assemblies and institutions enjoy numerous protections under the law to ensure the principles of religious freedom that are the basis of one of the most important rights we all enjoy. To date, we have not observed any violations of law or ordinance at Hanuman Mandir that would waive those protections.

More of the same at the Indian church tonight. One cop overwhelmed. People doing U-turns in the middle of cumming street. Parking on private property.

Thank you for your detailed and professional explanation.