Orthodox Jewish Boys High School In Limbo In Brick

BRICK, NJ — The application to turn a former synagogue into a high school for Orthodox Jewish boys remains on hold in Brick Township, officials said this week.

The application by Congregation Kehilos Yisroel for a use variance to use the former Temple Beth Or synagogue property for a school was scheduled to be heard by the Brick Township Board of Adjustment on March 30. But representatives of Congregation Kehilos Yisroel asked to cancel the hearing, and requested a 30-day extension on the next hearing date, said Pamela O'Neill, the secretary for the township's Board of Adjustment.

Nearly two months later, the hearing still has not been rescheduled.

On Tuesday during his Facebook live, Brick Mayor John G. Ducey said the issue is Congregation Kehilos Yisroel does not have money in escrow, which is required for projects before the zoning or planning boards. The funds are used to pay the town's professionals to review plans along the way.

Without funds in escrow, the town will not schedule further hearings on the application, Ducey said.

The zoning board hearing was ordered by Ocean County Superior Court Judge Craig Wellerson as part of the legal wrangling over the lawsuit Brick Township filed on Aug. 20, seeking an injunction to force the congregation to seek township approvals to operate the school.

The zoning board heard an initial portion of the application during a four-hour meeting on Dec. 20 and carried the application to February due to requests for an additional traffic study and other materials. But the February hearing was rescheduled to the March date, before that was canceled.

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