By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The owner of a day-care center, proposed for the former headquarters of the New Jersey Conference of Seventh Day Adventists on Brunswick Pike, might learn Wednesday whether her application for a conditional use variance will be approved.
The township Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet at 7 p.m. in the lower level conference room Wednesday to continue its public hearing on the application filed by Lola Atunrase and the Agape International Children’s Academy.
The zoning board began its public hearing on the conditional use variance application at its Jan. 25 meeting, but ran out of time to complete the public hearing. About two dozen neighbors attended the meeting.
Although day-care centers are permitted in residential zones, Agape International Children’s Academy is seeking a conditional use variance because it does not meet all of the criteria minimum lot size, building setback, street access and parking lot screening and setback to be located in the R-4 (residential) zone.
Ms. Atunrase testified last week that Agape International Children’s Academy leased space on Princeton Avenue, until a bank foreclosed on the property owner and the day-care center was evicted. She relocated to Ewing Township, but wants to return to Lawrence.
The proposed day-care center at 2160 Brunswick Pike would be open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. It would open with an initial enrollment of 62 children including up to 20 infants. The maximum enrollment is 98 children, from infants through 6 years old.
The applicant testified that about 85 percent of the children are picked up in the morning by a custom-made bus owned by Agape International Children’s Academy. The bus takes the children home at the end of the day. Those children who do not use the bus are dropped off and picked up by parents or guardians.
The board also heard testimony from the applicant’s architect, Joseph Saphire. He told the board that the parking lot would be redesigned so that cars and their headlights would face the day-care center, and not the adjacent houses.
New landscaping and an 8-foot-tall fence would be installed to provide privacy for the houses next to the 17-space parking lot, whose entrance and exit is off Bunker Hill Avenue, Mr. Saphire told the board.
Inside the building, there will be eight classrooms four on the lower level and four on the upper level plus an area for infants. An open, gym-like space would be provided for winter play activities, Mr. Saphire said.

