JTOWN Magazine | October, 2013
Jackson Residents Voice Concerns Over Plans For Orthodox High School Over 500 residents from Jackson and Lakewood were present at Wednesday night’s zoning board meeting where opening testimony was given regarding a variance application for the construction of a new 400 student private high school. The school is being proposed in a residential zone on Cross Street, near the intersection of East Veterans Highway. Ray Shea, attorney for the applicant, Rabbi Ephraim Birnbaum who operates Oros Bais Yaakov High School, along with Ian Borden of Professional Design Services presented their case to the planning board stating on numerous occasions that the school would be beneficial to the community. While Shea said early in the meeting he had hoped for a preliminary and final approval, he received neither from the board, instead, the board adjourned the meeting after a three hour hearing that also included an hour of public comments. Shea and Borden presented the construction of the school to the board as a benefit to the community that would educate 400 students at the Orthodox Jewish all girls school. If approved, the building would be a two story brick structure that is 75 feet wide and 200 feet in length with recreational facilities in the rear including a swimming pool and basketball court. Today, the property is a faded snapshot of Jackson’s past. Dilapidated chicken coops are surrounded by automobile and lawn mower parts and a small engine repair garage operated by GS Equipment. A spokesperson for the company said on Thursday that prior to the announcement of the school, the conditions at the site had forced him to begin relocating his business to a location in the Cassville section of town. The property is also home to James Curtis. Curtis said he had no idea he would soon be losing his home at the public meeting. On Thursday, he said the site has been neglected by the owner and has become a place for transient
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squatters who come and go, some, he claimed, ending up in jail. Curtis said the site has been scene to numerous domestic disturbances in the years since he has lived there. Also at issue at the meeting with residents was their concern over recent news regarding the Lakewood School District’s financial problems related to the cost of busing private school students under a state mandate that requires the student’s home district to foot the cost of the bill. Although only one student attending the school currently resides in Jackson, at a cost of just over $800 to the district for busing, residents were concerned about the addition of future housing projects that could be built by the Orthodox community in Jackson. While Jackson’s School District would not be responsible for any transportation costs for students who reside out of district, they would be responsible, under state law to oversee any future grant funding for the school. The often contentious deliberation between the applicant’s representatives and the board became apparent in an exchange between board member John Suttles and the applicant. Borden, testifying on behalf of the applicant, said the school would be a benefit to the community, prompting Suttles to ask, “Which community…define the community we’re benefiting.” “I define the community to be the surrounding area,” Borden said. ”We don’t distinguish the communities, the community is the public in general.” Despite back and force debate about the public versus private school issue and dancing around the subject, Shea finally stated. ”Yes, this is a private school for Orthodox Jewish girls…we aren’t hiding that.” His response was met with jeers from the audience. At several points during the meeting, board Chairman Steve Costanzo reminded the audience to remain silent after outbursts and cheers. Five Jackson police officers ringed the meet-
ing room. Other issues with the application raised by the audience and the board’s team of professionals included traffic safety, tax impact, soil studies and future expansion of Cross Street, all prompting the board to postpone their vote on the application until the November 20th meeting. All of which the board said, should be in order and addressed at the next meeting prior to any vote on the application. One of the underlying concerns expressed by the public was their opinion of the state of the Lakewood school district and how the large amount of private schools have negatively impact the public school district. Others raised concern over the over development of the southern end of Cross Street where several private schools have been built or are in the early stages of construction. While the board has the decision to vote yes or no on the application, the applicant also has the right to pursue legal recourse in the court of law should the board turn down the application, an action Shea has become all too familiar with against this board in years past. After the meeting Shea and the applicants were provided police escort out of the building. The meeting is open to the public and will be held at Jackson Liberty High School.
Former Jackson Mayor Running for Freeholder Former Jackson Township Mayor and Police Commissioner Joseph Grisanti is running for office again. Grisanti is vying for the office of Ocean County Freeholder. Jackson has been void of representation on the county board for many years, but Grisanti hopes that Jackson voters come out to support him on election day. “There’s a lot of things going on at the county level that impact Jackson,” Grisanti said in a recent interview. “I think having a 5-0 majority for over 20 years is not healthy for the county. When a majority rules for that long, they become complacent.” Grisanti also said the current board is lacking when it comes to tackling issues important to Jackson. “They continue to ignore the problems of northern Ocean County including Jackson and Lakewood,” he said. “We have a lot of county roads in Jackson and with the amount of fatalities over the years they should get more attention than they get.” Mr. Grisanti, a lawyer, is also a former FBI agent and is a prosecutor in several Ocean County municipalities.
November Picks at the Library Teen Advisory Board Tuesdays,November 19th, & December 17th, 7 PM. Earn volunteer service hours by helping to plan library programs for teens and children, make book displays, decorate the Jackson library, and other duties as assigned. Grades 7 - 12. Must fill-out a volunteer application. Lenape Culture Monday, Nov. 11, 7:00pm. Beverly Friend, of Cherokee Heritage will present a variety of authentic artifacts, crafts and clothing to explain Lenape Daily life, beliefs and history and creative expression. Teen Volunteer Afternoon Friday, November 22, 3pm. Serve your community and earn volunteer hours by helping kids with crafts at the library. Grades 6 - 12.
Afternoon Movie Thursday, November 14, 2pm. For Veterans Day we present a film celebrating the glory of the fighting forces. Inspired by Hasbro’s classic naval game, Battleship. Paper Airplanes Thursday, November 7, 2pm. Grades K - 3. School is out. Come in for National Aviation History Month for a story and craft. Also, we’ll be having a paper airplane throwing competition.
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