Politics & Government

New Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church: No Closer to Construction

In a special Boards of Adjustment meeting on May 13, the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church made another case for variances on construction.

In a long meeting of the Board of Adjustment on May 13, Vincent Bisogno, Esq. represented the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church in an attempt to achieve variances and an approval to begin construction on a new sanctuary. 

After three and a half hours, it became clear to the board that not much had changed in Bisognos proposal from the last time they had met. And it seemed that even further amendments to the project would have to be made.

The current Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church is located on 45 Church Street on eleven and a half acres. 

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The church came to the Planning Board on Oct. 3, 2000 for approval of specific variances for construction on their lot in two phases. Phase I would encompass the building of eduction and office buildings, and Phase II includes the construction of a new sanctuary. 

Now that Phase I has been completed, Liberty Corner is looking to finally begin Phase II.

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A preliminary site for the new sanctuary was shown to the planning board in October of 2000, and it was approved. However, since it has been ten years since the original plans for the new sanctuary were drawn up, a new engineer was hired to revamp the drawings. 

The current blueprint needs new variances to be approved by the zoning board in order for construction to commence. The changes brought in front of the board were: a reduction in building size, a height variance of three feet, an impervious coverage (the amount of surface area allowed that does not absorb precipitation) increase of over one percent, and an additional entrance sign on Church St.

Zoning regulations do not stipulate between a residential home and a church facility. Based on the law, the maximum height should be no more than 35 feet (excluding the steeple), only 30 percent of impervious coverage is allowed, and only one sign is legal for identification.

Ten years ago, the planning board allowed a height variance from 35 feet to 38.9, an impervious coverage increase from 30 percent to 34.6 percent, and would allow two signs for the church. 

Now Liberty Corner Presbyterian is asking the zoning board to authorize a 42 foot high building, a 35.7 percent impervious coverage, and three distinguishable signs.

The board was frustrated and dissatisfied with what the Presbyterian Church came to them with. In previous meetings, the zoning board told them that more changes needed to be made, but Bisogno was adamant in pleading his case to the board. 

He brought up four witnesses to the stand: James Brown, a member of the church and the construction manager, the head engineer William Hollows, and architects George Yu and Eric Trainer. 

Brown was present in 2000 when the original plans were drawn up and he is a part of the chain of facilities team organized by the church and in charge of the construction of these properties. 

The purpose of a new facility is to fit more people into the services. Presently, three services are held on Sundays, two of which occur simultaneously--one in the sanctuary and one in an on-site gymnasium. Brown would like to see less services and more people within the church – and the current plans allow 600 people, which is a big increase from 375 – which is what the church can contain now. This increase is necessary since the Liberty Corner Presbyterian congregation consists of over 1100 people.

The old sanctuary will not be torn down, but used occasionally for special services and on holidays. Additionally, the new building will be over 300 feet away from surrounding residences, and any new lighting on the building should be minimal in terms of disturbance.

Nevertheless, the board was not swayed by Bisogno's  witnesses and arguments. They see no point in placing another sign on Church St., just 300 feet from a sign that is already there--especially when the congregation is so large and familiar with the location of their house of worship. And when Bisogno tried to claim that they were limiting religious signage out of religious intolerance, the board concurrently did an eye roll. 

Phase II took so long to begin because of loss of finances, and Brown would like to break down Phase II into smaller phases as funding accumulates over time. 

Zoning board member Miller asked "since you don't know how long this project will take, why don't you just wait until you have the appropriate funding?" But Brown feels that they have waited long enough and that due to the distance and expanse of the lot, construction noise and disturbance would be insignificant. 

While Bisogno told the board, "we will take that into consideration" to many of the suggestions made.

When Bisogno begged that the impervious coverage was only one percent more and asked for the exception, Miller said, "Well if it's only one percent, why don't you make some changes?"


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