Church of God Expansion Hearing Delayed, Neighbors Concerned They Won't Be Heard

Neighbors of the World Mission Society Church of God on Godwin Avenue expressed concern that they might be shut out of the process to potentially build two two-story additions for a pastor’s residence, several rooms and a restriping of the existing parking area.

At least ten neighbors were at Village Hall Tuesday night for what they believed would be the first public meeting regarding the plan. However, the application was pushed back to July 16 by the request of Church of God and its attorney David Rutherford to spend more time on reports.

Similar to the delay in the Valley "H-Zone" proceedings, due to summer travel and vacations, concerned neighbors requested the application be pushed back even further, to September.

"It would be a lot more practical," said Yvonne Segars, who lives on Paul Court and serves as the Public Defender of New Jersey.

However, as members of the planning board and the village's professional staff said, the applicant would have to agree to such a move and legally, if not heard by August 16, per law the application would be automatically be granted approval.

"Right now the board has to vote on this no later than August 16 unless the applicant extends. If the applicant does not agree [to an extension], the board may have to hear this in August as well as July," Village Planner Blais Brancheau said.

Planning board counsel Gail Price said the village is unsure if any further relief would be requested by the applicant, which would likely require several hearings. It was also unknown if Church of God's witnesses and attorney would be available on the August date.

With strict legal requirements and lack of certainty that Church of God would agree to an extension, a neighbor favored a July meeting as the first opportunity to hear the expansion proposal.

"Given the parameters laid out, if we lock it in August you [the planning board] might not have a quarum, we certainly won't have representation in the neighborhood and we'll have to go on faith that there will be more than one hearing," said resident Paul Mularz.

"Since this is such a big application and has been bone of contention for many years, I think neighbors have a right to be heard," Mayor Keith Killion said.

The planning board agreed to a July 19 start date as an introduction to the application.

"We will start the hearing on July 19 with a short period of time allocated on the agenda to have a hearing then. At least we can hear the applicant's basic proposal and hear their opening statement," planning board Vice Chairman Albert Pucciarelli said, adding that the board will know what witnesses will be present.

The board will tell Church of God that it's reached a consensus that a September hearing is favored and its preference is to extend the application, Pucciarelli said.

Price said expert witnesses will be asked to be made available on the second meeting date for those unable to attend the first meeting.

Any changes to the hearing dates will be posted on the village website, Brancheau added.

"I want to make sure that everyone here understands you will all be afforded the opportunity to be heard as this process moves forward," Price said.

[Editor's note: The quote attributed to Paul Mularz misidentified the individual. It has been corrected.]