Church expansion case to continue for zoning board

BY ROMAN J. USCHAK

Deliberations in the case of the proposed expansion of the St. Mary and St. Mercurius Coptic Church at 125 Academy St. will be extended for at least another month.

Thursday night's meeting of the Belleville Zoning Board of Adjustment was largely reserved for testimony from members of the audience regarding the expansion, which calls for the construction of a large domed parking structure with underground parking, along with a chapel, a Sunday school, and a multipurpose room. The project would also necessitate the demolition of three homes on Academy Street.

Board chairman A.J. Del Guercio said that April's meeting of the zoning board would entail cross-examination of the planners involved in the case.

"Hopefully we can conclude this next month," said Del Guercio of the case, which has been going on since last year.

Several residents of Academy Street and nearby Rutgers Court expressed their dismay with the application, officially labeled ZB-2011-03. They hoped that the board would eventually turn it down, as they believed it would severely impact their quality of life and also their property values.

"This project will result in irreparable harm to the community," said Rutgers Court resident James Jones.

There were also fears that the church congregation would swell in size if the church itself physically expanded, and further complicate perceived traffic and parking difficulties on Academy Street and nearby areas.

"The street doesn't have a parking problem," said Academy Street resident Alex Gasbarro. "The church does."

A youth leader for the church, Mark Tanfit, later said that the church definitely needed additional space.

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Church expansion case to continue for zoning board