FREEHLOLD TOWNSHIP — The entire congregation of the Chinese American Bible Church appeared at a recent meeting of the Freehold Township Zoning Board of Adjustment to show support for a proposal that will provide them with a new church.
On Feb. 26, members of the zoning board unanimously approved a use variance, with conditions, for the Chinese American Bible Church.
Church officials are planning to convert a building at 65 Gibson Place, off Route 537, into a house of worship.
Attorney Richard Tilton, of Millstone Township, presented the application on behalf of the contract purchaser, the Chinese American Church.
Tilton said the 10,000-square-foot, onestory building on Gibson Place, currently owned by Medical Freehold Inc., is in a CMX-2 zone (commercial, mixed use).
The applicant was seeking a use variance in order to convert the building into a house of worship. The 2-acre property has 218 feet of frontage on Gibson Place, a depth of 362 feet and 123 parking spaces.
Timothy Kwok, who serves the church as a deacon, said the congregation has been looking for a new facility to hold religious services, programs and Sunday school because the congregation is outgrowing its present location.
The church, which began hosting 12 families in 1999, has grown to more than 100 members.
Kwok said the congregation has been sharing space with the West Monmouth Baptist Church, Route 33, Freehold Township, for 10 years. He said that when he saw the vacant building on Gibson Place, he thought it would be perfect for the church’s use.
The applicant will not make any significant changes to the exterior of the building, he testified. Kwok said Sunday services will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The time frame will provide for two services, one in English and one in Chinese.
The church will also provide Bible studies, a Sunday school and programs for youths and children, as well as fellowship meetings.
Kwok said the building will only be used by congregants. In response to a question about catering services, Kwok said there will not be any large-scale cooking on the premises, only light refreshments. For large church parties, congregants will bring food to the building.
At the conclusion of the testimony, the use variance was approved with conditions and will be revisited within three months when the applicant returns with a revised plan that addresses some of the concerns that were expressed by board members.
Items that need to be addressed by the applicant include sidewalk repairs, the removal of some pavement in order to decrease the amount of impervious coverage, and the approval of the Freehold Area Heath Department and the Freehold Township Fire Bureau, which will inspect the kitchen stove to be used in the church.
Upgraded lighting and landscaping on the site are also among the conditions to be addressed.
The building that is expected to become the Chinese American Bible Church is the facility which formerly housed the CentraState Medical Center Health Awareness Center. The building is across Gibson Place from a Radisson hotel.

