West of Boca, county planners and residents say new synagogue will be traffic nightmare

The delicate dynamic between religious places of worship and traffic congestion is at the forefront of a proposed synagogue off Clint Moore Road west of Boca Raton that has residents claiming the size of the lot is too small and the traffic impact will be too much for the surrounding area to handle.

Nonetheless, the County Zoning Commission voted 5-3 to issue a needed variance for the project to move forward despite a finding by county planners that one was not warranted.

Religious institutions are not required to meet all of the zoning code that is applied to other development. Critics argue the lot size — only 2.73 acre tract — is too small and other solutions have been ignored. The 18,065-square foot synagogue would have 246 seats and parking for 83 cars. Access would be from Clint Moore Road.

To build the synagogue, the Chabad wanted a setback variance passed to avoid "a bowling-like" building that it said would not work. Zoning Board Director Lisa Amara told The Post that the Zoning Commission approval was only for the variance, not the use which will be reviewed when site plans are submitted. Included in that review will be traffic plans, she said.