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Politics & Government

Day Care's Zoning Board Application Postponed

Agape International Children's Academy wants to open a day care center in a building on Brunswick Pike previously occupied by the the New Jersey Conference of Seventh Day Adventists.

Much to the displeasure of about a dozen neighborhood residents who showed up to protest it, an application by Agape International Children’s Academy for a use variance was removed at the last minute from the agenda during the Lawrence Township Zoning Board's meeting on Dec. 21.

Agape, which previously operated from a building in the 1800 block of Princeton Avenue in Lawrence before moving to Ewing, wants to relocate its day care center for 62 students to an existing building at 2160 Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1) in Lawrence.

Neighbors are worried about increased traffic and other effects of Agape opening in the Brunswick Pike building, which was previously used as an office by the New Jersey Conference of Seventh Day Adventists.  The 21 existing parking spaces, located behind the building, are accessed via Bunker Hill Avenue. 

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A buffer yard variance is required in addition to the use variance.

Agape was the first item on the board's Dec. 21 agenda. But with the application removed from the agenda, all that disgruntled neighbors had a chance to complain about was the fact that they had been given no advanced notice that the application had been postponed until the board's Jan. 25 meeting at Agape's request.

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Agape was concerned that, "with tonight's meeting so close to the holidays, people might not be able to come," zoning board attorney Edwin Schmierer explained.

That didn't sit well with the neighbors. One man, agreeing that it was indeed close to the holidays, said he and others had nonetheless "made arrangements to be here."  Other neighbors made similar comments.

Schmierer answered that Agape had the right to ask for a continuance of the case until the Jan. 25 meeting, and added that Agape wants to meet with neighbors "informally" to discuss the neighbors' concerns about the application. A sign-up sheet was available for that.

Schmierer noted that an invitation to attend the meeting will also be sent to all property owners within 200 feet of the proposed Agape site.  Under the law, all those homeowners already had been sent legal notices informing them of Agape’s application to the zoning board.

"We hope there's a lot of you that will meet with them" before the Jan. 25 meeting, Schmierer told the neighbors.

Parking will definitely be discussed when the board considers the Agape application next month.

"Testimony is required to demonstrate the parking lot is adequate," assistant township engineer Brenda Kraemer said in a memo to the zoning board.  She added:  "The parking lot layout is not conducive to this type of use.  The alignments of several spaces are awkward and, if the lot is full, there is no opportunity to turn around or wait for a space.  In addition, there is no handicapped accessible space.  A revised parking plan is recommended."

Kraemer also said the building's lighting needs to be evaluated.  Its trash enclosure needs to be moved and properly screened, she added. 

Brian Slaugh, the zoning board's planning consultant, said in a memo that Agape "should provide an estimate of the age groups that will be cared for in the center and necessary staffing.  Since the hours of operation are likely to be greater than an eight-hour day, the applicant should indicate if it anticipates shift changes in personnel."

Slaugh added that Agape "should indicate that they will be able to comply with the minimum 35-square-feet of usable floor activity space for each child as required by state rule.  If this cannot be met, then it appears that an outdoor play area will be required on the grounds.  We also suggest that, even if the standard is met, an outdoor play area would be desirable and that the property has sufficient unused land to accommodate this accessory use."

Also at the Dec. 21 meeting, the zoning board voted unanimously to deny an application by Care One for a use variance it would need in order to open an assisted living facility in the historic William Gulick House located at 3641 Lawrence Rd. (Route 206). The building, which has long been vacant, was damaged by .

No representatives from Care One were at the meeting and there was no public comment on the board's vote.  Township officials said the Care One application had been open since 2005.

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