This is an interesting story that proves that sometimes people just don't like living next to a religious institution, even when it is an institution that represents their own religion:

http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/despite-residents-opposition-cote-st-luc-council-approves-synagogue

Cote St Luc is a suburb of Montreal whose population is close to 60% jewish. After the city council approved a zoning change to allow construction of a new synagogue, the residents acquired the necessary number of signatures required to call for a referendum to block it, after already having submitted a 70 signature petition to ask that the project be halted.

http://www.cjnews.com/news/canada/proposed-new-shul-divides-largely-jewish-cote-st-luc

The mayor, understanding that the "no synagogue in my backyard" side would win the referendum, has decided to rescind permission to build a synagogue in that location and is helping the synagogue to find another location.

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