Nativity expansion wins zoning approval

Church expansion takes the next step toward expansion.

By: Bill Greenwood
MONROE — Plans to expand Nativity of Our Lord Church on Applegarth Road have taken a step forward.
    The Zoning Board of Adjustment on March 27 approved use and bulk variances needed to begin the project, which includes building a new 18,508-square-foot church and a new 3,000-square-foot convent on the church’s 13.95-acre property. The church would also add 229 spaces to its parking lot, bringing the total to 474.
    Once construction is completed, the old church will be converted into a parish center to be used for religious education classes and other church-related meetings. The current rectory will be moved approximately 500 yards north.
    Francis Brennan III, the church’s attorney and a member of its finance committee, said the parish must receive final site plan approval from the Planning Board before beginning construction. He said he did not know when the board would consider the request.
    While awaiting approval, the church will hold "a fairly significant fundraising effort," Mr. Brennan said. However, Linda Schilling, a member of the parish’s finance committee, said no decisions on how to approach such an effort have been made.
    "We just wanted to get this variance right now," she said.
    Ms. Schilling said she did not know how much money would need to be raised.
    The use variance expands the church’s pre-existing one — which allowed the parish to build its existing facility, designated a house of worship, in a residential zone — to allow for the new construction. The parish also received 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 storm water 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. The proposal calls for a total of 474 parking spaces to be provided. However, 533 are required.
    Mr. Brennan said the church’s finance committee would meet in May to come up with a timetable for the project.