Christian academy will expand recreation facility

BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

UPPER FREEHOLD - The New Jersey United Christian Academy will make alterations to the 10,000-square-foot recreational facility on its Holmes Mill Road property.

Michael Balint, attorney for the academy, appeared before the township's Planning Board at its June 26 meeting to discuss the changes the school would like to make to the Quonset-hut-style facility on its property. The board ultimately unanimously agreed to amend the facility's site plan to allow for the additions.

The building currently houses a full basketball court and a gymnasium, but does not have stands or seating capacity, according to Balint. The building is fully air conditioned and insulated. The noise insulation keeps it "amazingly quiet in there," he said.

Balint said the academy determined that it needs more educational and office space, and could eventually add another building to the campus. However, the school is not in an economic position to construct another building for those needs yet, according to Balint.

Balint said the academy seeks to use a portion of the recreational building for additional office and classroom space. While the original proposal for the recreational building did not include bathroom facilities, the academy now wants to add them as well, he said.

Dawn Fossnes, a principal at the academy, told the board that the school's students are very advanced. She said the academy needs more classroom space so that it could offer more electives.

Fossnes said the school's enrollment is growing, but not beyond the school's predictions. While the school had 66 students last year, the population should grow to 90 by next year, she said. The maximum enrollment would be 110, according to Fossnes.

Regarding parking at the facility, Fossnes said that while the school will gain two additional staff members next year, the academy will not require additional parking space. The academy is a boarding school, and most of the students in the junior class live on campus, she said.

Architect Greg Barkley said the site has adequate septic for the addition of two new rest rooms in the recreational building.

Both septic fields in the front of the property are already being fully utilized, but the academy just added a new septic field to the rear of the tract, according to Barkley.

When asked what would happen if the front septic fields failed, Barkley said the site would still have adequate space for a new septic system.

Board member Jennifer Coffey, who is an independent candidate for Township Committee, asked if there are any indications that the front septics are near the end of their use or subject to failing soon. Barkley said that the annual state inspection of the systems did not indicate any potential breakdowns.

The board's vice chairman, Doug Raynor, who was unanimously elected that night to replace former Vice Chairman Barry Wright, who resigned from his position on the board, said the proposed additions would not increase usage of the septic systems on the site.

Jeff Newman, who lives next door to the academy, told the board he has concerns about noise from the school.

"At least 100 people were there last week," he said. "I've called the [New Jersey] State Police at least seven times. They say to go to the Township Committee."

Both Newman and the school's director, Dr. Jay Shinn, have put up signs regarding keeping the noise level down at the academy. However, Newman alleged that no one at the school seems to be supervising the young people.

"It took the state police 20 minutes to find someone [in charge] in the building," he alleged.

Newman alleged that kids at the academy scream "like crazy" as late as 12:30 p.m. and also trespass on his property.

Board Attorney Frank Armenante said the township has a noise ordinance. He said the noise level should be measured as the noise is happening.

Raynor said he feels strongly that the noise issues should be addressed.

Armenante said buffering between the two properties could help with the issue.