July 12, 2010 -- For nearly three steamy hours a capacity crowd at City Hall listened as residents who live on or near Highland Avenue spoke against the application by The Love of Jesus Family Church to build a mega-church and social service facility in the neighborhood.
Those in favor of granting the application were members of the church; a few who live in Orange, either in apartments or a few in one of the many single family homes. They spoke in terms of the ministries that the church offered, and that residents should not focus on "things" or "ownership." Most, did not live in Orange. Yet they told how they brought their children to the church from their towns of Newark, East Orange, Irvington, and as far as Pennsylvania to "raise their children in a place of God". They came to the quiet stability of a residential neighborhood and its ambiance. They spoke with passion to belittle the importance of paying city taxes.
As much as I am pained by taxes, taxes pay for the community, the schools, and the services, and must be paid. Since I moved to Orange, taxes have tripled.
I was annoyed by the more than borderline righteousness of their members claiming that their membership gives back to our community. They take more than they give.
Those of us opposed to the application pointed to our high (and consistently rising) property taxes, reduction in services provided by our city because of budget cuts, rising costs, and wanting our AA rating to be respected, to remain a residential neighborhood. The only ratables we are zoned for are single family homes. We bought our homes in the neighborhood for the backyards, the ambiance, our friends and families who already lived here. We attend our churches, in Orange and elsewhere - none of which are interrupting residential neighborhoods -- and what! there are other churches in Orange with community ministries. LOJFC does not have the lock on prayer and service to Orange
The zoning meeting was a reunion of sorts for many of us, who sent our children to the public schools, volunteered as scout leaders, served on the school board, attended council meetings, little league games, bike round ups, saw each other at the Y or the Library, and carpooling to activities. Like many families we bonded through school and club activities as well as church activities. Not necessarily LOJFC activities.
This has been a call to action for the neighborhoods!!
I know many residents who want to leave Orange now because it has disappointed in the implied promise of maintaining the residential neighborhoods and schools and expected services. Areas are zoned to create quality living spaces, business areas, and open spaces for quality of life. LOJFC will not help reduce taxes or improve the schools or community services that make the neighborhood nice.
There are still many residents who envision Orange as a family friendly community and many residents who moved to Orange for the resources, and its neighborhoods. Build mixed income affordable single family homes instead -- build and they (taxpayers) will come.
Should the Zoning Board not listen to its taxpayers and vote contrary to our stand there will be more bitterness and resentment among homeowners -- not apartment dwellers -- more homeowners than the Zoning Board, the City Council, and the Mayor can imagine.
