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HAMILTON: Wary residents question church plan

The board will continue hearing the application in the Nottingham Ballroom on March 25.

by James McEvoy, Managing Editor
HAMILTON — Residents living near a proposed church on Kuser Road, expressed concerns to the Hamilton Township Zoning Board, and requested the application be denied.
   The residents made their concerns known at a hearing Tuesday night. Officials expect that at least one more hearing will take place before the board will vote on the application.
   Kingdom Church, a non-denominational church, returned to the board in November seeking to build a church at 2367 Kuser Road.
   The church seeks to build a 51,017-square-foot facility with 254 parking spots and has applied for a use variance, various waivers and preliminary and final site plan.
   The facility will include 1,000 seats. According to testimony from church officials, roughly 1,300 worshippers attend two Sunday services at the church’s current worshipping site in Ewing.
   The two services would be held at the Hamilton site, if approved, as would a Wednesday night Bible study.
   The church also currently leases space in a school for a Burlington location. Pastor Dharius Daniels testified the church is under contract to purchase a permanent facility elsewhere in that community.
   The application previously contained a second phase to construct a 27,010-square-foot fellowship hall, but that portion of the application is no longer being pursued.
   A primary concern of residents was traffic impacts, which they said would exacerbate current issues on Kuser Road.
   ”We oftentimes have excessive traffic backups on this two-lane country road,” said resident Paul Stanton. “It is presently zoned for an office building and we request that it stay that way.
   ”They are offering nothing to the township, but future problems,” Mr. Stanton added.
   Other residents criticized the applicant and accused church officials of being evasive in previous testimony regarding expected church attendance and facility specifics.
   Resident Joe Schimento said he had no problem with the church, but said the proposed site was not the right place for such a facility.
   ”It doesn’t belong,” Mr. Schimento said, adding that he was concerned the presence of the church may cause delays in first responders dispatched to the senior resident communities in the area.
   As it relates to traffic, according to Francis Goeke, engineer for the application, the applicant is requesting the township widen Kuser Road along the frontage of the proposed site to allow for a left turn lane into the church.
   However, residents were critical of this as well, noting the bill for road widening would ultimately fall on Hamilton taxpayers.
   While the majority of residents who spoke were against the application, Patricia Dixon, a church member and Hamilton resident, said the church members want to be a part of the community.
   ”The church is to service the people that are already there, not to take away from the community,” she said. “I think what a lot of people aren’t understanding is that the building that we currently are in is a rental and we’re looking for something permanent.”
   At the meeting, Mr. Daniels provided additional testimony. Also testifying were Mr. Goeke and Xavier Riva, who prepared an environmental impact statement for the site.
   Each witness was cross-examined by Michele Donato, an attorney representing Kuser Community Association.
   As was the case at the November hearing, Ms. Donato questioned Mr. Daniels about the growth of the church, which was founded in 2005, as well as the status of the Burlington location.
   During cross-examination, Mr. Daniels testified the church sought to move in part due to the fact the current facility is rented in an industrial park.
   Ms. Donato also asked about the church’s website and its role in attracting new congregants. She also questioned how many communities church goers reside in.
   While emphasizing the difference between members and those who consistently attend services, Mr. Daniels replied church members reside in 147 communities. He testified that he was unable to say how many reside in Hamilton.
   As was the case in November, Board members Anthony Celetano and James L. Kochenour recused themselves prior to the application being heard.
   Prior to the last hearing, Mr. Celetano recused himself after Michael P. Balint, board attorney, suggested the move since a running mate of Mr. Celetano in the recent Hamilton Board of Education election had publicly stated opposition against the application.
   Mr. Balint previously suggested the move though noted he believed Mr. Celetano could have judged the application fairly.
   To accommodate the nearly 200 residents and church congregates, the meeting was held in the Nottingham Ballroom.
   Additional hearings on the application will continue to be held at the ballroom. The next hearing on the application is scheduled for March 25.