Here is the Star Ledger Article re CC and the Highlands:
Highlands rules to impact plans for church complex
Friday, June 18, 2004 BY MAURA McDERMOTT Star-Ledger Staff
The evangelical church seeking to build a religious complex in Rockaway Township has been advised it needs to scale back the project because pending Highlands legislation places new restrictions on the property, the church's pastor said yesterday.
The Rev. David Ireland said lawyers and environmental consultants for Christ Church of Montclair told him the legislation would not allow the church to build beyond the footprint of the 421,000-square-foot buildings now on the former Agilent Technologies site. The church has an option to buy the 107-acre site off Green Pond Road.
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The church had planned to raze two of the three buildings and replace them with a slightly wider structure and add parking spaces. The restrictions mean the church cannot add parking, and it will need to scale back its classroom plans, Ireland said.
However, the restrictions will not significantly reduce the scope of the project, he said.
"It doesn't stop the project," Ireland said. "It may just be a reorientation of how we use those buildings."
The church's original plans call for a 500-pupil elementary school, along with 22,000 square feet of office space, a 12,000-square-foot gym, fitness center, dining hall and 3,000-seat sanctuary. The site has room for 1,011 cars, enough to serve the sanctuary, the pastor said.
Township officials said it is unclear what effect the Highlands bill will have on the church's application, which is before the planning board. The bill passed the state Legislature on June 10 and awaits Gov. James E. McGreevey's signature.
"I know it's going to have an impact, I just don't know what the impact will be," planning board attorney William Dimin said yesterday.
Dimin is expected on Monday to announce his recommendation on whether the board should consider the church's application or whether the church needs to seek a variance from the board of adjustment. He would not comment yesterday on what he will say.
If the planning board decides the church does not need a variance, the board would begin hearings on the project's impact on traffic and the environment, among other factors. There would likely be at least six monthly hearings before the board can rule on the project's merits, according to Dimin and Ireland.
Ireland said the church has redesigned its stormwater-management plan to comply with stricter new laws governing runoff into the state's most pristine waterways, such as the Beaver and Hibernia brooks, which run through the property.
The planning board will meet Monday at 8 p.m. at the Copeland Middle School, 100 Lakeshore Drive in Rockaway Township.
Maura McDermott is a reporter in the Morris County bureau. She can be reached at mmcdermott@starled ger.com or (973) 539-7910.
In September at the 1st meeting held by what is now known as Voices of Rockaway Twp. we listed our concerns. The environment was on our list of concerns. As we moved forward we spoke of the need to control urban sprawl and protect our environment. I was on TV explaining how this project went against everything that the state of NJ was attempting to control (over development and sprawl).
In September the 4 founding members of the Voices of Rockaway Twp met with the Irelands and explained why we thought this was not a good idea. Mr. Ireland did not take our concerns seriously and in fact was less than polite in his responses to some of our concerns.
Here we are 10 months later, the senate and house of NJ agree with us that NJ has been victim of over development and it must end. Had Ireland listened to our concerns and actually spent a little time getting to know the area he would have understood the fragile nature of this rare and beautiful area. Instead he and his PR firm called us names and tainted the image of this town.
We were 120% correct about the environment. Please note that the environment was only 1 of our concerns. We are also concerned about demands on our infrastructure, traffic and taxes. All of our concerns hold arguments and positions as strong as our opposition based on environmental concerns. The time, energy and money wasted on this application could better be spent on worthy causes that will help humanity.
I know the Irelands read this message board and I know those few in RT who support them read also. Here is a heart felt message for you. We respect your religion. We have lost respect for some of the leadership of Christ Church based on the name-calling and need to paint Rockaway as a racist town. We wish you had listened to us in the past. The past is behind us. There are many problems with your project that you have still yet to admit to. Do the right thing for all; find a new location that better fits your needs and the community. If that land is elsewhere in Rockaway Twp, so be it, but 140 Green Pond Rd is not the right location. We sincerely wish you the best of luck in securing a location to build your dream.
Respectfully,
Lisa Salberg
Voices of Rockaway Twp.
__________________
The truth wins out over slick PR and personal attacks.
The Christ Church Plan for the redevelopment of 140 Green Pond Rd is just too big for the area.
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