Residents Sound Off on Church Plans

A dozen people living near a planned Midland Avenue church logged their complaints about the proposed construction at a Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing Thursday.

Residents raised concerns about the additional traffic that would arise if the builds a cathedral, classroom and assembly hall at 55 W. Midland Ave.

"I can't get out of my driveway in the mornings," said Janet Mooney, who lives next to the planned church on West Midland Avenue.

A traffic engineer for the Syriac Church said at an earlier meeting that a traffic light at the entrances to the planned church and the would help alleviate traffic, but Mooney and other residents were skeptical.

Residents are also worried about drainage problems caused by the additional construction. The plans for the church include a catch basin for any runoff.

But Geraldine Stein, of Pepperidge Road, said the water will affect her anyway.

"Eventually all the water that goes into the drainage pipes will wind up in the creek that runs behind my house," she said.

Wayne Fleischman, a Benton Road resident, said a planned 49-foot dome on the proposed cathedral would be an "eyesore."

"The size of the building is outrageous," he said.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment is scheduled to vote on the application Feb. 9.