Hearing On Orthodox Boys School In Brick Postponed 2nd Time

BRICK, NJ — The hearing on the proposal for an Orthodox Jewish boys high school at the former Temple Beth Or site scheduled for Wednesday evening has been canceled, township officials confirmed Tuesday.

Representatives of Congregation Kehilos Yisroel requested the cancellation and a 30-day extension on the next hearing date, Pamela O'Neill, the secretary for the township's Board of Adjustment, said in an email to Patch.

The reason for the request was not given. O'Neill said the new hearing date has not been finalized.

This is the second time the hearing on the application has been postponed; it also was postponed in February.

Congregation Kehilos Yisroel filed an application in December for a change of use at the site of the former Temple Beth Or synagogue, after several months of legal wrangling and an order from Superior Court Judge Craig Wellerson.

Congregation Kehilos Yisroel purchased the former Temple Beth Or property at 200 Van Zile Road in March 2021. It initially filed a zoning permit request with Brick Township to continue to operate it as a house of worship.

In the ensuing weeks, neighbors of the 4.1-acre property began contacting township officials complaining about seeing students being brought by bus to the property, which was then operating as a private high school for Orthodox Jewish boys.

Township officials have said that while a school is a permitted use, Congregation Kehilos Yisroel was required to file a site plan for the change of use and seek permits for the change.

Brick Township filed a lawsuit against the congregation on Aug. 20, after serving it with a zoning violation notice, warning it had to comply and file a site plan and seek permits.

Wellerson ordered a Dec. 20 hearing by the Brick zoning board, and the initial hearing, and heard testimony on an initial portion of the application during a four-hour meeting. It was carried at the end of the Dec. 20 meeting to February due to requests for an additional traffic study and other materials.

• Brick Orthodox School Hearing Postponed
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• Hearing Set In Brick's Suit To Shut Down Orthodox Jewish School
• Unauthorized Orthodox School In Brick To Stay Closed 2 More Weeks
• Brick Orthodox School To Stay Shut While Safety Issues Addressed
• Brick Sues To Force Unauthorized Orthodox Jewish School To Stop Operating

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