Planners approve church, seek buffer for farmland BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer Howell HOWELL - New Beginnings Christian Fellowship Inc. of Brick Township faced some criticism at the May 17 Planning Board meeting, but in the end received preliminary approval to construct a 15,000-square-foot house of worship on Lakewood-Allenwood Road. The church, which currently operates out of a teen center on Brick Boulevard in neighboring Brick Township, is seeking more space due to its large congregation, according to attorney Todd Cohen, who represented the applicant. According to a report prepared by Planning Board engineer Ernest J. Peters, the building is proposed to contain a sanctuary, lobby, multipurpose room, offices, classroom, nursery, arcade and lounge, bookstore, kitchen and rest rooms. The plan for the church includes a parking lot with 84 spaces. During the public hearing Susan Forsberg, of New Gretna, spoke on behalf of her father, Edward Britton, who owns a farm next to the property where the church is proposed to be built. Forsberg discussed the environmental impact the church could have on her father's farm as well as her concern to preserve the farm in its natural state. "My dad is very upset about this application. He has a big garden of vegetables which is right next to the proposed parking lot," she said, expressing concern about auto emissions from the vehicles that will come and go from the church. Forsberg also said building the church will take away from the neighborhood's rural character. "This is such a big building on such a small piece of property. It does not go with the neighborhood," she said, adding that this part of Howell "will lose its farm appeal." Don Smith, the chairman of Howell's Environmental Commission, shared Forsberg's sentiment, saying, "In light of the fact that is a farm which intends to grow crops on its property, a farmland buffer becomes a crucial issue." Smith said he was also displeased with the architecture of the proposed church. "I think that's the ugliest building I have ever seen to put into that area. It is not appropriate," he said. Joe Zabloski, of Brielle, the son in law of Edward Britton, said he was also disturbed with the architectural design of the building. "The visual design of the building does not fit in with anything else anywhere near it in the neighborhood. It just completely disrupts the sense of place for that entire road. A church is usually more angular and has more visual features, it's more pleasing to the eye. This structure looks more like a store or a strip mall rather than a church," he told the board. John Costigan, chairman of Howell's Preservation Task Force, confirmed that the land south of the church site is farmland property which belongs to Edward Britton. He said the farm should have an appropriate four-season buffer from the church. Cohen said his client will take a closer look at the architecture of the building and he agreed to work with Howell's certified tree expert Zig Panek to supplement the mature trees that exist on the site with a four-season buffer. Board members James Burgess, Russell Bohlin, Christopher Estevez, Township Councilman Michael Howell, Michael Morello and Chairman Paul Schneider voted to grant the applicant preliminary approval.