Does anyone know if the March 21st planning board meeting is even possible at this point? I think that I read that CC has the option of continuing with the process but if they do, they would need to proceed with plans that comply with the new ordinance. I would seem that the traffic study that their expert is testifying on is now obsolete since it was based on a larger scale project. Wouldn't they now need to downsize their plans and then commission a new traffic study based on those new plans? Any thoughts?
Downsize it? Wasn't their traffic plan ill conceived from the get-go? Was it not based on a membership of 5,000 people? Did you know that their membership is already up to 6,500 people? Is anyone talking about that number? Does anyone really believe that 6,500 is as big as his joint is going to get? If anything, the traffic plans need to be upsized to the TRUE intent of Ireland and company and their expected membership growth considering how many people could be squeezed into that place at any given moment by putting the seating closer together in the sanctuary and using other areas of the building with audio and video feeds. Isn't there an awful lot of grass that he could just happen to park on down there? Ever heard of rented parking and shuttle buses? Isn't there a huge industrial complex directly to the west of GPR where he could rent parking on weekends? How are you going to stop him from doing these sorts of things when his flock just so happens to accidently follow and grow? Do you folks really - really think that he would not do that? Do you folks really think that there would be any way to stop him from doing that? I am right on this, don't you think? If not, what do I have wrong?
Send him packing and tell him to go do a little soul searching. We'll all pray for him that he might find the L-rd (not that he believes in such things) and maybe even learn a little something about lying and deceiving folks and its ultimate consequences.
I agree with you that the alternatives that you mention are things to be concerned about but I'm not sure how the town can prevent him from doing those things? Hopefully the ordinance and other applicable laws address those possibilities but, not being a lawyer, I don't know if they do. Do you have any suggestions for taking care of those contingencies if they are not already addressed?
"I agree with you that the alternatives that you mention are things to be concerned about but I'm not sure how the town can prevent him from doing those things? Hopefully the ordinance and other applicable laws address those possibilities but, not being a lawyer, I don't know if they do. Do you have any suggestions for taking care of those contingencies if they are not already addressed? "
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Yes, indeedy! There is only one thing that will guarantee that this town does not have to deal with all of those things. You know what it is, but you may have just forgotten; but in case that you have forgotten, we must:
I agree with Rat that there are some serious concerns in those areas to be addressed but there is one point that bears mentioning again. At the last PB meeting CC agreed to a max. occupancy cap. That, of course, was based on the former structure size which would have to be revised again now, however, its interesting that they agreed to anything like that regardless. Dimin cautioned them that the cap could be made an official condition of the Cert of occupancy and therefore if it was ever exceeded it would result in the CO being pulled. They agreed to it anyway. That surprised the hell out of me. Yes, it would be tough to enforce since no one is going to sit at the gate and count people every Sunday (although some have already volunteered to do so) but if they began filling up the lawns, it would be obvious. With that being said, what concerns me, is that the traffic study is immediately worthless when the membership numbers change anyway, as it will result in a prolonged peak of traffic at all times. Instead of just two services on Sunday, it will become 3,4, 5 or more. So instead of impact peaks at only 3 times on Sunday morning it will extend throughout the afternoon too. Along with that, all the other weekday activities also increase in size and scope and therefore in impact as well. Bottom line is that an organization with an agenda like theirs is not wanted or needed here in RT, at that location. Not because of religion, race, or anything like that, but because of their history, future goals, and current track record make them unsuitable tenants and dangerous to the infrastructure in the future.
"At the last PB meeting CC agreed to a max. occupancy cap."
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I am not a lawyer, as you know. but that profer does not pass the smell test. I really doubt that such an agreement is legally binding or enforcable. The bottom line is that if we make a wrong move and think that this clown will ever act in good faith, we have thrown common sense out of our reasoning process.
I think this guy will say anything he has to get his foot in the door. Then when something like this is attempted to be enforced, he'll cry racists!, religious persecution!, and RLUIPA help me!...my rights blah blah blah.
Let him stew in his own juices and bring this to court, or condemn the property and build a single high school for Rockaway Township with a decent sports facility for the children of our town that is more on par with the surrounding towns.
I think this guy will say anything he has to get his foot in the door. Then when something like this is attempted to be enforced, he'll cry racists!, religious persecution!, and RLUIPA help me!...my rights blah blah blah.
Let him stew in his own juices and bring this to court, or condemn the property and build a single high school for Rockaway Township with a decent sports facility for the children of our town that is more on par with the surrounding towns.
For what it's worth, I agree that it makes sense to condemn the property for a worthwhile public purpose such as a high school and/or new middle school. We also could consolidate some of the other town functions that are currently being done at other locations. What has to happen for this process to be initiated?
All good ideas, that have been floated around since the beginning. It always seemed to me that one of the big hurdles was the total independence of the BOE from the rest of the town. They only do what they want to when they want to and answer to no one. If this town could get everyone together and look at it as a total township endeavor we might be able to get somewhere. We have many different/separate facilities in this town that could be easily consolidated into one location such as this. The BOE looked at the property and said it would be too expensive just for a school. That may be true, but how about a school, BOE offices (sell off the property in Hibernia), a new library (again sell or consolidate others), Senior Citizens center (sell off the old bldg on Mt. Hope Rd.), etc, etc. I still have a hard time believing that it wouldnt be advantageous to remodel an existing structure that already has a secured perimeter, athletic fields, town water and sewer, paved parking lots and is centrally located, rather than build from scratch somewhere else, IF another location could be found.
"What has to happen for this process to be initiated?"
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I am not sure, but I think that we need to find a formal way to put pressure on our township officials. I guess that we would have to circulate a petition and obtain at least "x" number of signatories for it to be effective. I do not know what "x" is. I do not know what the legal language in the petition must be for it to be "kosher". I have never done this sort of thing and thus, do not know the logistics and legal mechanics. Has anyone else here done that? Please advise.
And I also want to throw in the following testament. Those buildings are not in good shape. They are in EXCELLENT shape! They were always maintained perfectly and their condition reflects that fact.
Now that the next scheduled PB meeting is one week away, does anyone know if CC has submitted revised plans that comply with the new ordinance? If not, when would those plans be due for the meeting to proceed?
