Korean Church back before Holmdel board Presbyterian Church affiliate hopes to build on Holland Road

Korean Church back
before Holmdel board
Presbyterian Church
affiliate hopes to build
on Holland Road

HOLMDEL — The Planning Board had its second informal discussion with members of the Korean Church of New Jersey, and although progress was made, the church still has not filed a formal application.

According to the church’s attorney, Thomas Klien of Smith and Klien, West Long Branch, The Korean Church of New Jersey is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of the United States. The minister of the church is also Presbyterian.

The church acquired the 8.5-acre property on which it would like to build a church in September 1998. Located on the west side of South Holland Road just south of the Garden State Parkway, it is bordered by Ramanessin Brook and includes a house and a barn.

"We have had the attorney and engineer for the applicant come to a workshop prior to tonight’s meeting," board Chairman Paul Kraus explained to the audience. "We put out a lot of questions for William Fitzgerald, the applicant’s engineer, to answer and now he is back with redesigned plans."

According to Klien, the church has been using the property for the last year. The main house of the church is currently being used as a parsonage for the pastor.

At the last meeting, Fitzgerald discussed rebuilding a guest house that had stood on the property but burned to the ground some years ago.

"After speaking with the board, we have revised the plans and have decided not to seek approval to rebuild the guest house," said Klien.

Klien explained that the expansion of the facility will be done in phases.

"Phase 1 of the application will be to renovate the interior of what is now called the barn," said Fitzgerald. "We are looking to make that the chapel."

Klien said that the church currently has 22 families, but hopes to expand over the next five years to 150 members, an increase which left some board members wondering where the new members would all park.

"Currently we have plenty of room on the grass to control overflow parking," said Fitzgerald. "But right now we have one space for every third person."

When the revision is completed, the church plans to have the capacity to hold 350 people, although Fitzgerald said that they may never have that many members.

"But if you did have that many members, that would mean only 123 parking spaces for 350 seats," said board member Marlene Maley.

Maley also raised concerns regarding the extra flow of traffic and how it would affect the surrounding roads.

"If we keep Holland Road’s curve as it currently is, I think we are going to end up with a real problem," said Maley, who suggested that the applicant go back to the drawing board and pay more attention to the roads.

Mayor Gary Aumiller also suggested that the applicant give attention to the entrance way to the church.

"As the entrance stands right now, it is not adequate for a large number of cars to enter and exit through," said Aumiller.

No date has been set for a continuation of the discussion or formal application presentation.