Nativity of Our Lord plans expansion

Applegarth Road church plans for bigger church, convent and more parking.

By: Bill Greenwood
   MONROE — Linda Schilling, a parishioner at the Nativity of Our Lord Parish on Applegarth Road, loves her parish. However, she could do without the church’s recent overcrowding issues.
   "You have to get there at least 15 minutes ahead of time just to get a parking space," she said.
   "The parking is very hazardous when it’s crowded," she said. "There’s not enough parking spaces, so people park in all the aisles. It would be hard for an emergency vehicle to get in."
   However, relief may be on the way. The parish has submitted an application to the Zoning Board of Adjustment seeking to build a new 18,508-square-foot church and a new 3,000-square-foot convent on the church’s 13.95-acre property, according to the parish’s application to the board. The application also calls for 229 spaces to be added to the parish’s parking lot, bringing the total number of spaces to 474.
   The parish also wants to convert the old church into a parish center to be used for religious education classes and other church-related organizations’ meetings and relocate the current rectory by moving it approximately 500 yards north, according to the application.
   "We’re doing that to allow better use of the property and better use of the parking lots that are going to be created," said Francis Brennan III, the church’s attorney and a member of its finance board.
   Mr. Brennan said the decision to expand was made because of a rapid increase in registration at the church. He said the number of registered families has increased from 975 four years ago to 1,845 today.
   "I think it’s because of the development in Monroe," said Ms. Schilling, also a member of the parish’s finance committee. "So many people are moving into the area, and if they’re Catholic, they’re going to go to the closest church."
   However, she said she welcomes the influx of new parishioners.
   "It’s good that we have all these people coming," she said. "The bad news is that we’re overcrowded."
   Mr. Brennan also said more families with children are entering the church than before. He said the number of students enrolled in the parish’s religious education program has increased from 63 four years ago to 350 today.
   "It’s kind of a double-edged sword, where we’re happy to have all of these new parishioners, but we have to be able to serve them properly," Mr. Brennan said.
   Mr. Brennan said there was no timetable for construction, but said the church would most likely be completed over the next few years.
   He said the convent was just part of the parish’s proposed master plan for the site at this point. He said no timetable had been set for its construction but that, if built, it would be after the church.
   Mr. Brennan said the parish currently rents a house in Monroe where two nuns live, one who serves Nativity of Our Lord and another who serves Queenship of Mary R.C. Church in Plainsboro. He said Nativity of Our Lord hopes to bring in more nuns to help make up for a shortage of priests and wants to give them a place to live.
   "As a church and as a religion, Catholicism is moving toward more support at the parish level from nuns," he said. "With that, they need a place to put them."
   Before construction can begin, the parish needs the zoning board to grant a new use variance to expand its pre-existing one, which allowed the parish to build a house of worship in a residential zone. The parish also needs bulk variances for parking and road frontage buffers, impervious coverage, building height, and number of parking spaces.
   The proposed parking buffer is 16.85 feet where 25 feet is required, and the road frontage buffer is required to be 60 feet. However, an existing stormwater facility for the site is within that buffer zone.
   Also, a maximum of 35 percent impervious coverage is allowed, but the proposal calls for 49 percent.
   The proposed building also would be 51.33 feet tall while only 35 feet is allowed.
   Finally, the proposal calls for a total of 474 parking spaces to be provided. However, 533 are required.
   The board is expected to discuss the parish’s application March 27.
   In the meantime, Ms. Schilling, who joined the parish in 1994, plans to continue coming out for Mass and helping the parish however she can, despite the overcrowding.
   "We’re very attached to (the parish)," she said. "I love our parish. I think it’s a great place."