HOWELL — Calvary Chapel, a fellowship of 1,000 churches nationwide, according to the Rev. Wayne McCarrick, pastor, is looking to establish a new facility on Fairfield Road.
Earmarked for the church’s purposes is a 110-acre property on Fairfield Road which is owned by Roger Vogel. The site will be accessible from the new Route 33 bypass.
Church officials are seeking an amendment to the current Special Economic Development (SED) zoning that is in place so they will be able to build a church and school at their desired location.
Attorney William O’Hagan of Neptune, appearing before the Township Council in December to request the amended zoning, observed to the members of the governing body that the non-denominational church would "serve the public good with no detriment to it."
As presented at that time, church officials are seeking to construct, in the first phase, an 80,000-square-foot combination church and school. Under consideration is a 40,000-square-foot expansion of the facility to include a gymnasium and other facilities, according to O’Hagan’s initial presentation.
According to McCarrick, the church’s current operation and 3,000-member congregation in Old Bridge, Middlesex County, would move to the Fairfield Road location.
"We are looking to develop a home in Howell," he said.
Another branch of the church has opened for operation in Howell following renovations at the site of an old movie theater on Route 9 south near the Lakewood border.
McCarrick is the pastor at that house of worship. If opened, the pastor at the Fairfield Road location would be the Rev. Lloyd Pulley, the current pastor of the Old Bridge congregation.
McCarrick said that in addition to holding Sunday services, the Fairfield Road church would conduct outreach programs such as a food pantry, clothing distributions and a policemen’s fellowship Bible college.
Following O’Hagan’s presentation to the council, Mayor Timothy J. Konopka said he "liked the concept for the rehabilitation of a blighted area" and noted that the church would be a "positive for the community."
Councilman George Pettignano concurred and, along with the mayor, directed the township planner to look into amending the SED zoning regulations.
One resident of Fairfield Road who is thrilled at the prospect of having the site developed by a church is Speedy Verosloff, the newest member of Howell’s Economic Development Committee.
Verosloff has lobbied for years to end the use of the Vogel property for strip mining and sludge-fertilizer derivative manufacturing. The Vogel property borders his land.
Verosloff said he can’t think of a more positive use for the Vogel property than the proposed use by the church.
"It is a clean development of the property that will enhance the neighborhood," he said, observing that with the new Route 33 bypass, the flow of traffic will be smooth and efficient, as the area will now be a "hub" of the Jerseyville section of Howell.
Verosloff said the development of the church will finally make the area a "force to be reckoned with."
As to church officials’ request for amended zoning in the SED area, Verosloff observed, "If exceptions can be made for sludge and strip mines, why not a church and school?"