The following is a chronological history of the Phase 1 (Center Court, offices, Multipurpose Rooms, Kitchen and additional Class Rooms) and Phase 2 (Sanctuary, Central Gathering Area, Music Practice Area and Toddler Area) areas from the Facility Team's inception in 1997 through the present. Much of the information is drawn from the church's annual reports. I'm sure I have not included all events but I believe this to be a good overview of the history of our expansion plans. This chronology does not include prior expansions of the Sanctuary, Douglas Hall and the current Children's Corner (TCC) areas.

Abbreviations:
Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church (LCPC) 
Liberty Corner Facilities Team (FT) 
Bernards Township Planning Board (PB) 
Dennis Kowal Architects (DKA)
Brokaw FG (BFG) 
Frankoski Construction (FC) 
George Yu Architects (GYA) 
Murphy & Hollows Engineers (M&H) 
Bernards Township Board of Adjustment (BoA)

• In June, Session created and charged the FacilitiesTeam (FT) to analyze the facility needs o fthe church. This analysis was to include worship facilities, Christian education classrooms, meeting rooms, administration offices, recreational facilities and parking. The FT was asked to report back to session in the fall of 1997 with a plan for "building or acquiring new facilities, including a new sanctuary, which will meet the needs of the congregation well into the next century."
• In the fall, the FT reported to the Session that it recommended staying on our present site and through preliminary discussions with the Township Planning Board, had been told LCPC needed to prepare and submit a Master Plan for the use of our property before we would get any approvals to build anything, even a parking lot expansion.

• In January, the congregation approved FT's request to hire an architect to initiate the conceptual Master Plan. The FT received commercial proposals and interviewed several architects and came to the unanimous decision to hire Dennis Kowal Architects (DKA) to assist the church in developing the Master Plan.
• DKA and the FT interviewed all the major ministries of the church and collected data and information to develop a "needs analysis" for the church.
• In July, several ministry representatives as well as FT members came together with DKA for a two day design retreat to consolidate our needs and desires into a focused theme and initial design for our Master Plan. Our theme centered on a "campus" environment for any new buildings which would be warm and inviting to both member and visitor alike. We wanted to create an atmosphere where people could come to be rejuvenated in God's love before going back to the "communities where we live work and serve, to transform the lives of people."
• The results of this retreat were then worked on and refined by DKA,the FT and the design retreat members over the next two months and presented to Session in October.

• The FT began development of the schematic design in preparation for the congregation's approval and submittal to the Bernards Township Planning Board.
• InApril,wereceivedconfirmationfromtheN.J.DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionconfirming that there are no wetlands on our property. This was a significant hurdle, which allowed us greater flexibility in the development of the master plan.
• TheFThiredDennisKowalArchitects,thearchitecturalfirmthatassistedusincreatingour conceptual master plan, Brokaw FG as our site / civil engineer, and Vince Bisogno as our attorney to represent LCPC during the submittal to the Planning Board.
• Inthefall,theFTmetwiththePlanningBoard'sTechnicalCoordinatingCommitteetoinformally review our plans. They were receptive to LCPC's plans and expressed no concerns or substantial requests to change things in our plans.
• The FT and Session also met with several of our neighbors to inform them of our plans. A few expressed concern about the driveway to Lyons Road, amount of parking, lighting levels, water runoff, and the setback amount of the parking lot on Lot 15. The FT continued the dialogue with these individuals and worked to resolve as many of these concerns as possible prior to submission to the Planning Board.

• InFebruary,theFTmetwiththePlanningBoard(PB)inaninformalworkingsessiontoreviewour plans and obtain their feedback. With this feedback, the FT along with our consultants completed the documentation necessary to make a formal submission to the PB. In early spring, LCPC formally submitted our application to the PB.
• Throughlatesummerandtheearlyfall,LCPCandourconsultantsmetwiththePBinaseriesof PB Meetings to give public testimony and answer questions about our application.
• On October 3, the PB unanimously approved our application for our Master Plan. Included in their approval is a variance to exceed the allowable coverage of the site, allowing additional on site parking to be built, a variance to exceed the height restriction of the building from 35 to 38.5 feet, and a waiver of the Bernards Township tree ordinance which requires replacement of all trees 6" in diameter and larger. Phase 1 of the plan received a "preliminary and final" approval and included most of the site development, and Phase 1 buildings including Center Court, the church offices, Multipurpose room B, kitchen, and added TCC class rooms. Phase 2 of the plan received a "preliminary" approval and includes the roadway out to Lyons Road and the Phase 2 building which includes a new sanctuary, central "hub" gathering area, worship music practice area and infant area.
• Duringtheremainderof2000,theFTwasbusyincorporatingthemanycommentsreceivedfrom the PB and township engineer which were a requirement of the PB approval, as well as revisions requested by the Somerset County Planning Board. In addition, the FT and DKA began the process of developing the interior design and construction details for Phase I of our Master Plan.

• TheFTcontinuedworkingwithDKAconvertingthesketchesofourPhase1buildinginto construction documents.
• Simultaneously,weworkedwiththeBFGtofinalizethesiteworkdrawingssothatconstruction could begin on the parking lots that we so desperately needed. Intensive design and redesign was required to meet all the requests and requirements imposed upon us by the state and county agencies reviewing our project
• FTsentoutforbidandawardedtheconstructionmanagementandbuildingoftheprojectto Frankoski Construction. This name might be familiar to some of the congregation, as Stan Frankoski's firm built the previous expansion on the education wing.
• OnDecember13,wetookournextstepintheprocessbystartingthetreeclearingandsitework. This was formally commemorated in a "Ground Breaking" ceremony on December 23.
• TheFTcontinuedtoworkwithFCtodevelopandmodifyoperatingplanssothatwecouldtryto minimize the disruption to the church's operations during the construction period. Unfortunately, the church lost on-site parking spots during this process and it was several months until the new parking lot was usable.

• The site development continued to progress through the winter and spring. During the process of preparing the site for the building, it was discovered that the soils under the "footprint" of the building had insufficient capacity to build the building on, and the Facilities Team made the decision along with our consultants to replace the soils with "structural fill".
• Inthespring,thecongregationapprovedproceedingaheadwiththestartofthephase1building construction.
• TheFT,alongwithFCandourdesignconsultantsfinalizedawardsontheinitialtradesubcontracts and in early summer, the new building was under way.
• By late summer, we were able to pave the first course on the new parking lots and driveways. This helped us "reclaim" some of the parking lost when we started the site work and manage what seems to be our ever growing need for parking.
• Throughthesummerandfall,constructiononthePhase1buildingcontinuedasitwaserectedand enclosed.

• Inearly2003theFTalongwithourdesignprofessionalscontinuedtoworkonmanyoftheintricate details and decisions of the building and site. Final decisions on the interior design and finishes were reviewed and implemented, finishing touches on the new office suite were decided upon and exterior site issues such as grading of the cemetery and added walkways were determined.
• TheSessioninconsiderationofthegrowthandpopularityoftheContemporaryWorshipservice authorized the FT to make changes to the planned facility to allow it, and specifically Center Court, to serve as a worship space along with all its other roles. The FT proceeded to upgrade the sound system, add a video system, and add a dimming system in Center Court to fill this role.
• Progress on the building and site work progressed through the winter and early spring. By early spring the building was substantially complete with all building department inspections completed and minor "punch list" work remaining. Site work started up in late winter with the final grading, planting, seeding, etc. necessary to finish and obtain a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy.
• OnJune1,thecongregation,friendsandneighborsofthechurchcelebratedthededicationofthe new facility. An inspiring worship service was held to dedicate the facility to God's use and plans. Church staff moved into the new office wing shortly after the dedication.
• Followingthededication,theFTworkedwithFCanditssubcontractorstocompleteallopenitems, and "punch list" work and close all subcontracts.

• Inearly2004theFTalongwithourcontractorFC,concludedthePhase1buildingandreceiveda final Certificate of Occupancy from Bernards Township. Our congregation had only just started to determine the various uses for this new facility and already we were feeling the need to grow again.
• Inthespring,theSessiondirectedthatanewFacilitiesTeambeformedtoinvestigateandbegin the process of planning for Phase 2, which will include a new sanctuary and fellowship hall.
• AnewFTwasformedandstartedtheprocessbyinterviewingalistofhighlyqualifieddesigners and selected George Yu Architects (GYA) to lead us through our next phase. This recommendation was presented to Session and accepted by them.
• Since GYA's selection, the FT worked on the development of our Phase 2 plan. The team took "road trips" to visit other sanctuaries that may have comparable features to the ones we wanted for our sanctuary.
• TheFTleadbyGYAhelda"townhall"typemeetingtoworkwithourcongregationontheneeds and desires that they felt would be important in a new worship space. Further, they met with many of the ministry teams of the church to get their ideas on space needs in an attempt to accommodate as much of these needs as possible in the next phase. The Facilities Team continued to work through the difficult decision process of determining space needs, configurations, layouts, seating, sound, video, and numerous other decisions.
• InSeptemberandOctober,theFTmadeanapplicationtotheBernardsTownshipPlanningBoard for a one year extension to the preliminary approval of our phase 2 master plan. This allowed LCPC to continue working on the phase 2 design.

• In2005theFTcontinuedontheconceptualdesignofthePhase2facility,whichincludedanew sanctuary and fellowship hall. For several months, the Facilities Team met and worked with George Yu Architects to prioritize decisions concerning space usage and needs, layouts, exterior appearances, site coverage, etc.
• Whiletheplanwasbeingfinalized,ourcivilengineerdiscoveredthattherewasanerrorinthe coverage calculations made by our previous civil engineer in the previous site plan. Concurrent with this discovery, a one-acre lot on Lyons Road, contiguous with LCPC's property, came up for sale. Evaluation of this lot showed that if LCPC bought it and merged it with our current property, it would solve our coverage issues. Both Session and our congregation approved the purchase of this property and the purchase closed in the fall / winter.
• Inthespring,aconceptualplanwascompletedandpresentedtotheSessionfortheirreviewand feedback. The Session accepted the design and decided that they would present the plan and design to the congregation.
• TheSessionhadpreviouslydecidednottoimmediatelystartanothercapitalcampaignbuttofirst present the plan to the congregation. The congregation was presented the plan in the fall and it was well received by all. Following the presentation, the Session decided to move forward with a capital campaign in 2006.
• InthefallLCPCmadeanapplicationtotheBernardsTownshipPlanningBoardforanotherone- year extension to the preliminary approval of our phase 2 master plan. This allowed LCPC to continue working on the phase 2 design.

• TheFTcompletedworkontheconceptualdesignofthePhase2facility,includinganewsanctuary and fellowship hall. The FT, working with George Yu Architects and Murphy & Hollows Engineers, finalized decisions concerning space usage and needs, layouts, exterior appearances, site coverage, etc. The overall design was presented to the Session and congregation.
• OurdesignersandtheFTworkedtopreparethedesigndocumentsforsubmissiontotheBernards Township Board of Adjustment for approval. This submission was made in the late summer and no date for the formal presentation and review with the Board of Adjustment was set in 2006.
• In the fall, a Capital Campaign was officially "kicked off." As of the end of December, pledges totaled approximately 3.7 million dollars, of which approximately $400,000 was designated for mission. The Session and FT started meeting to discuss plans and options for moving forward.

• TheFT,afterhavingpresentedthePhase2designtothecongregation,wasaskedbytheSession to look at ways to phase and / or reduce the cost of Phase 2.
• TheFTmetwithSessionrepresentativesandworkedwithGYAandMurphy&HollowsEngineers (M&H) to make decisions on phasing and scaling back some portions of the design. In the spring, the Session met with the congregation and explained that they were working on plans for phasing and reduction, along with plans for the growth of our church and ministries. Session asked that the FT come back to the congregation in the fall with an update.
• Our designers and the FT worked to prepare the design, indicating reductions and phasing. These included smaller music area, nursery area, and smaller gathering hall, and deferred tower and roadway to Lyons Road. The concept design allowed for these elements to be built out to their full design at a later date if, or when, a future congregation should deem them necessary.
• ThisdesignwaspresentedtoLCPCinthefallandwasacceptedbytheSessionandcongregation. The congregation approved that the FT advance the modified design with the Board of Adjustment (BoA) and ask for its approval. The Facilities Team met with the church's attorney and worked to have an amended application completed and submitted to the BoA.

• TheFT,alongwithourconsultants,continuedwiththedrawingmodificationsnecessarytoamend our application to the BoA to indicate expected phasing of the project.
• TheseamendeddesigndocumentsweresubmittedtotheBoAinthesummerandLCPCawaiteda hearing in front of the BoA to present our application. LCPC was preliminarily scheduled to present to the BoA in February 2009.
• LCPCalsoreceivedapprovalofitsLetterofInterpretationindicatingnowetlandsonthepropertyin the areas where we planned to build. This allowed us to continue with our expansion plans without impact from wetlands issues.

• The FT started our presentation of our application to the Board of Adjustment (BoA). The FT and consultants presented, at multiple meetings throughout the year, portions of our application.
• TheFTexpectstoconcludeitspresentationofourapplicationinearly2010andtoreceiveavote on our application from the BoA.

• TheFTreviewedourplansforthePhase2SanctuaryexpansionwithRev.DonFeuerbachafterhis start in January.
• In 2010 the FT concluded our presentation of our application to the BoA. We had presented at multiple meetings throughout 2009, at each meeting presenting a portion of our application. In 2010 with the change of some Boa members, we agreed to re-present our application to all of them.
• ItbecamecleartotheFTthattheBoAwasnotinclinedtoapproveourapplicationforvarious reasons including the height of the structure, the bell tower height and the previously approved roadway from our property out to Lyons Road.
• GiventheindicationthattheBoAwouldnotapproveourapplication,theFTconferredwithour attorney on options. The FT presented recommendations to Session based on this advice from our attorney and the Session decided to withdraw our application prior to going to a formal vote by the BoA. This allowed us more flexibility for the future, not having had our application rejected.
• Thedesignandsubmittalprocessforthesanctuaryadditioncurrentlyisonhold,awaitingfurther direction from the Session and the congregation. There are several options, some of which include (I'm sure there are other options):
  • Do nothing
  • Reconsider our needs and how they match the current plan, make changes as necessary or abandon the plan
  • Wait and then resubmit the plan as is in the future
  • Make modifications to the plan and resubmit it to the PB or BoA soon
  • Wait, make modifications to the plan and resubmit it to the PB or BoA in the future

Campus & Buildings Information:
Existing Site: 11.55 Acres

Existing Buildings - 27,264 SF Coverage, 32,140 SF FAR 
Phase 1 Buildings - 20,365 SF Coverage, 23,777 SF FAR 
Phase 2 Buildings - 19,500 SF Coverage, 19,500 SF FAR 
Site Roadways and Walks - 112,458 SF Coverage

Requested Lot Coverage Including Phase 2: 35.6% 
Requested Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Including Phase 2: 15%

On Site Parking Spaces Provided: 192 
Additional Off Site Parking Spaces Available: 382 
Total Parking Spaces Required: 349