More hearings slated on spiritual group plans Prayer hall, homes proposed at Pension, Englishtown roads BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer The Old Bridge Zoning Board of Adjustment has a long way to go before deciding whether to approve a spiritual center and residences across from Raceway Park. "We are nowhere near [a decision]," board Chairman Kiran Desai said. "I want to keep myself open so I can know all the facts before I decide which way I want to go. At this point, I don't think anyone on the board has any opinion." Desai added that it is unlikely that the board will come to a decision after the next hearing on the matter, scheduled for April 3. The Dayalbagh Radhasoami Satsang Association of North America provided its third round of testimony before the board on Feb. 7. Members of the Indian spiritual movement submitted an application to the township to build their center on a 19.5-acre site they purchased at Pension and Englishtown roads. Their plans consist of an 18,240-squarefoot prayer hall, along with 16 residential units and eight dormitory style units for visitors. Raceway Park's owners are opposing the project because of the numerous noise complaints their facility contends with regularly. While the spiritual group members state that they are aware of and prepared to deal with noise generated by the track during its racing season, the track owners foresee problems in the future. "Logically, people usually want peace and quiet when they're worshiping," said Alex Napp, an owner and vice president of Raceway Park, "so it just doesn't seemlike a great fit." A traffic expert for the spiritual group gave testimony at the most recent meeting, along with a representative of the group. Several residents also spoke out against the project, suggesting that the group find another location for their headquarters, according to Desai. At a past hearing, residents of one household neighboring the proposed center expressed disapproval about the possibility of the association receiving tax-exempt status. While churches are granted tax exemption, this case may be differentiated by the residential component of the project. David Himelman, the group's New Brunswick-based attorney, said in the past that a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with the township is a possibility, but pointed out that the group in no way wants to place a burden on the municipality. While most of the resident volunteers would be retired individuals, according to representatives of the group, there may be a small number of school children brought to the area as a result of the project. The matter of taxes has yet to be addressed by the zoning board. "Raceway had themain concern," Desai said. According to Michael Napp, another of the track's owners, those who move in nearby often realize after the fact that they are unhappy with the amount of noise generated by the racing, which also occurs outside of the summer racing season. Though the facility's owners have gone as far as having new homeowners sign contracts stating that they would not lodge complaints, some residents have reneged on the documents, Napp said. Association members residing on-site would take part in an austere lifestyle, with their day beginning at 4:30 a.m. for meditation, and continuing with various structured activities until 9 p.m. Religious services for about 40 attendees would take place twice daily, according to Rahul Gupta, a representative of the association. A weekly service would draw between 100 and 150 church members on Saturday evenings, he said. The group is seeking a residential density variance to allow for the units they propose. Gupta said in past testimony that volunteerism is an integral aspect of their beliefs, making the residences necessary for a core group of members to live and work there. Education also plays a large role in the group's practices, with classes in such areas as arts and crafts, vocational, distance learning, physical education, music, dance, language, culture and theology, Gupta said. Resident members would serve as teachers and mentors for the classes, which would also be open to the general public. About 400 group members from throughout the tri-state area convene for an annual gathering, which usually takes place on a holiday weekend, Gupta said. Traffic concerns present another major issue for some, because Raceway Park's events already bring large numbers of motorists to the area. Michael Leckstein, a Little Silver-based attorney for the racing facility, questioned the validity of information presented by the group's traffic expert. "He said he took the traffic counts in January, which astonished people, because that's one of the months Raceway [Park] is closed," Leckstein said. If built, the center would be the group's first headquarters outside of India.