Lack of parking was the main concern for the Union City residents that attended the Jan. 10 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting to discourage the board from approving plans for two new houses of worship in their neighborhoods.
Despite complaints from the dozen or so residents that live in the areas, the board approved plans for both churches.
“Every application has an impact on parking,” said Chairman of the Board Jay Schlesinger. “Parking is an issue in all of Union City.”
One of the churches, the Iglesia Bautista Betania Baptist Church, which is currently located at 24th and West streets, was approved to move into a vacant lot located at 902 22nd St. Another, the Iglesia Evangelica Apostle y Profetos Church, currently renting space at 501 New York Ave., was approved to move into a warehouse at 17-09 New York Ave., off 17th Street.
‘Where are we supposed to park?’
The hearing was the second day of testimony for the Iglesia Bautista Betania Baptist church. After its first hearing at the December meeting, the church was asked to make revisions to include a transportation plan to avoid excessive parking on street.
“There is no parking,” said Frank Gallotti, owner of Louis’s Restaurant on 22nd Street and Kerrigan Avenue. “As it is now, the people who live in that area are parking in my lot.”
Another resident in the area said that she had to park on the sidewalk at times just to get a spot, and many confirmed Galotti’s argument and said that they park in the restaurant’s lot every night.
Pastor Hector Hernandez testified that the new building, which originally was drawn to house more than 400 seats, was adjusted to allow only 300 seats, cutting down the number of people able to attend each service. However, the parking lot for the church will only allow 19 parking spaces.
At the recent hearing, the pastor also presented a transportation plan that outlined his congregation’s transportation to and from the church.
According to this plan, 172 of the patrons walk to church, 43 use public transportation, and 41 are transported by church-owned vans, leaving only 18 to use their own vehicles.
The plan also stated that the church would hold three services on Sunday to cut down the number of people coming to the area at one time.
The church has instituted a seven-member committee that drives the church vans and transports other members in their own cars to ensure that no member will use public parking spaces for their cars.
“This is something that sounds great on paper,” said Olga Leon-LoBello, a resident in the area. “How are you going to police your members?”
Although the plans were approved, one board member, Richard Diaz was on the resident’s side. “The city needs taxes,” said Diaz. “I think that the residents would be more happy with four-family houses being built in that spot that provides parking for each family.”
However, lawyers representing the church, as well as those for the board, said that tax ratables are not valid reasons to vote against the building of a church.
“Our presence would be a positive presence,” said Hernandez. “We want to have a good relationship with our neighbors.”
Hernandez said that the church is going to sell their building in the original location once they move into the new one.
No more noise
Another church, the Iglesia Evangelica Apostle y Profetos, which has an 80-member congregation, was approved to open at its new location.
According to Oscar Lazo, a member of the congregation who acted as spokesperson in the hearing, the church will be open on Tuesday and Thursday nights as well as Saturday and Sunday.
In this area, the residents already have to compete with Emerson High School and various restaurants for parking, and believe that the church would further impact the lack of parking in the area.
“We live across the street from Emerson High School,” said Frank Gusevich. “There they have day school, night school and the gym is going all the time. That limits parking even at night.”
However, the plans submitted for the church included an alternate parking plan which would allow for 15 parking spaces in the church’s lot, a number that the congregation felt was more than adequate for their congregation.
Carol Gusevich, who has been living around the corner from the new site for 21 years, was more concerned about the noise from the services.
“Just because I live in the city doesn’t mean that I need noise all the time,” said Gusevich.
However, Lazo assured Gusevich that the new church will not have enough space to hold parties or rent out rooms for them. He also said that the services do not include instruments or loud music
The church will house 49 seats and an assembly room next to the main room for services. The congregation’s pastor and his family will occupy the top floor.