Church’s plans for grass parking lot approved
After a lengthy presentation and discussion, the Haddonfield Historic Preservation Committee approved the First Church of Christ, Scientists’ application plans for a grass parking lot.
According to the church’s attorney, Jim Burns, the plans have been structured to attempt to meet the demands of the surrounding community.
When the church, located at 355 Kings Highway East, purchased the lot, consolidated properties and demolished a building, the intent was for it to become a parking lot, Burns said.
In 2011, the commission denied the plans for the lot since it did not meet the demands of uniformity in that portion of the historic district.
According to HPC member Cynthia Byers, it’s up to commission members to determine if a project would fit into the appearance of the area.
“The goal of the church is to try to be a good neighbor,” Burns said.
The lot is expected to hold 22 cars, including two handicap spaces. The grass would be protected by a green turf reinforcement to allow the grass to grow while protecting it from the weight of cars, said Clif Quay, the engineer hired by the church to work on the site plan. The handicap spots would be created with concrete paving material and landscaping would be created.
The entrance to the lot will be set back 20 feet from the property line, he said.
But chairperson Lee Albright was not convinced the changes made to the plan adhere to the consistency of the historic district in the future.
“I can’t vote for it. There is no promise, no guarantee the use will be that light in the future,” she said, adding her concern is also with protecting the trees onsite.
Resident Joe Haro was concerned the approval of the site plans would “open Pandora’s box,” enticing other applicants to construct too close to the historic district.
Haro mention historical architect Carter van Dyke Associates was recently hired to aid in reconstructing the historic district’s ordinance, and agreed to the importance of “buffer zones” protecting the feel of the historic district.
“It’s a beautiful village in the middle of an urban sprawl. Let’s not ruin it,” he said.
Church members were concerned that without the parking lot, it would be difficult for members to attend mandatory Wednesday meetings and even Sunday worships.
Church member Richard Meyers said he and his wife travel from Ewing to attend the meetings in Haddonfield, often finding parking a quarter of a mile away from the church. He said not all members are able to walk that far.
Haddonfield resident Michelle Sparrow and her family live next to the lot on Sylvan Lake Avenue.
“We felt exposed,” she said, as the commission members passed around photos she took with her daughter’s cellphone on Feb. 10 when six cars illegally parked on the lot for an event at the high school.
Burns addressed some of the issues presented by residents. He said the way the plans were redesigned does not alter the property. The landscaping would act as a buffer so cars parked on the lot would not disturb the residents.
He said church representatives are prepared to make alterations and continue to review the plans with the borough and the landscape architect and take the direction of the zoning and planning boards to ensure the entire process is done correctly.
“We want to serve the community in any way we can,” church member Linda Conner said.
