Committee Denies Petition for Church Parking Lot

For likely the first time in known Historic Preservation Commission history, a gray string bikini, an unopened can of Natural Bohemian beer and a consumed bottle of wine were presented as exhibits A, B and C in public comment against an application to the commission Wednesday night.

The application, presented by representatives of the board of trustees for the First Church of Christ, Scientist, was for an 18-vehicle parking lot along Sylvan Lake Avenue, on church-owned property, that would border residential properties on Sylvan Lake Avenue, Kings Highway and Kings Lane in Haddonfield. The church also owns and operates the Christian Science Reading Room on Haddon Avenue in Haddonfield.

The petition was denied by the commission after a contentious meeting in which the bikini, the unopened can of beer and an empty wine bottle was used to make the case against the parking lot. Former state Assemblywoman, Mary Previte, a neighbor of the church, used the items to illustrate what kids from the nearby high school are already doing near church property.

Previte said she drank the bottle of wine after she found it. 

“My neighbors said I shouldn’t, 'It could be urine,' they said. I think it’s their stash.”

She presented numerous articles against construction of the lot, including a petition signed by 70 residents, statistics from an over three-year car-counting study conducted by herself and other neighbors on Sundays and Wednesday nights for 375 days, and the aforementioned undergarment, can of beer and bottle of wine.

“A parking lot would be shielding what high school students and young people are already doing on the lot,” she said. “High school students and young people will do what young people do.”

Previte collected the underwear, full beer can, empty beer cans and a full bottle of wine from the lot recently. She said the location is regularly littered with the same kind of items. She thinks teens leave it behind.

The church is required to first seek a certificate of approval from the HPC before petitioning the planning and zoning board, according to borough process involving the historic district of Haddonfield.  Denial or approval by the HPC does not disqualify an application to to the planning/zoning board.

At the start of the meeting, commission member, Bob Ignarri cited the commission’s role in the process of a borough application in the historic district.

“We review applications with respect to the guidelines of the historic ordinance. We try to stay focused on how development affects historic property,”Ignarri explained.

Church official Kris Iocona, landscaper Robert Wilby and Cliff Quay, a civil engineer and planner, presented the case for the parking lot.  

The church cited the purpose of the lot as to improve availability of parking to church members, half of whom come from outside of the borough of Haddonfield. Wilby is a borough resident.

“Our role is to make our church more accessible especially to those who are handicapped," Iocona said.  "In addition, activities at the high school severely impact parking for members of our congregation.” 

Parameters of the proposal included removal of about five trees, added landscaping to buffer the residential borders of the parking lot, brick columns and a wood gate to the parking lot that would open with a concrete apron and entrance and lead to an asphalt lot.

Previte, 78, said she has been a good neighbor to the church and the church to her over the 42 years since she has owned her home on Kings Highway, adjacent to the church property.

Discussion over how many congregants the church actually has and argument regarding how many hours a parking lot would actually serve the church was also presented.

“Changing a neighborhood, ruining the character of a neighborhood, for only 18 parking spaces for a congregation that is reported to be 40 persons, is not only inappropriate, but unnecessary,” said resident Kenneth Andres.

Karen Andres added to his comment later in the meeting saying, “We are going to see the parking lot seven days a week for 18 parking spaces that are used on two days.”

In closing comments, Iocona pointed out that neither Sylvan Lake Avenue nor Kings Lane are part of the borough‘s historic district. She cited other properties in the area with mixed uses.

“We are part of the cultural and social history of Haddonfield. There are many properties with pre-existing, nonconforming uses between Park Boulevard and Grove, Kings Highway and Potter Street.”

She went on to list an orthodontist, two cemeteries, a chapel, a church, a park, a private club and public offices as examples.

In conclusion, the board voted unanimously to deny the application.

“The rules of the HPC specifically tell us not to use hardship as a reason,”said Ignarri.

Commission Chair, David Gottardi, echoed the comment. He said, “Because there is a need is not part of our criteria.”

The commission decided against the proposed parking lot because it altered the site and environment of a historic location too significantly, members said.

“This is just not the place for it,”said Ignarri.

“I don’t see it as a plus for the mostly historic area it is in. I don’t see it co-existing well with the residential area,” added HPC member Toni Bonnett.

Church representatives may continue on to the planning and zoning board.

“We don’t overrule them, we just provide information for them to consider,” said Bonnett of the HPC’s reach regarding a planning/zoning board ruling on the matter.

No further comment regarding plans to petition the zoning board next month were available from the church representatives at the close of the meeting. According to Richard Meyer, the head trustee of the church who also attended the hearing, they will consult with the board of trustees first and proceed from there.