This proposed 16,350 square foot house of worship would require
65% more land than owned to meet the legal requirements.
The structure would be too big, too high, too wide, too close to neighbors,
and without a major variance, would not be legal.
Contributions can be made to
Connell Foley Trust Account
85 Livingston Avenue
Roseland NJ 07068
Attn: Kevin Coakley
(Funds only distributed with consent
of the Association's trustees)
|
The next hearing will be Monday, September 27th, on the 2nd floor of Millburn Town Hall, 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. The following meeting is scheduled for Monday October 25th and that will be followed by a November 15th meeting.
|
|
Remember to forward this website address www.SaveMillburn.com to local neighbors and friends in town so they become aware of the issue and the meetings on this issue.
At the first two Zoning Board of Adjustment meetings, Rabbi Mendel Bogomilsky presented his case to knock down two houses and build a 16,350 square-foot synagogue and religious community Chai center at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Old Short Hills Road in Short Hills.
Almost the entire third meeting consisted of lawyers and the Board asking the Chai Center's expert witness engineer David Fantina of Bernardsville many questions about the variances and waivers being requested.
At the fourth meeting, the architect was the only witness as he discussed the plans and was quizzed by lawyers from both sides, the zoning board and residents.
One of the central issues involve the intentions of the Chai Center with regard to future plans for the location and whether the Rabbi and his group made serious attempts at purchasing a property with the required three acre minimum.
The application is opposed by many of the neighbors and others in the township.
Go to the Media/Press section above to read local news reports.
Photos from June 21st Zoning meeting
The Millburn Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing, regarding the Chai Center's attempt to have four zoning violations overturned, was held Monday evening June 21st at the Hartshorn School.
Photos from April 12th Zoning meeting
  
|
|
Millburn Township has an approved Zoning Ordinance and land use plan. If the Zoning Ordinance needs changes, by all means it should be updated and amended on a town wide basis in a legal manner. But otherwise, our group doesn't accept special zoning for special interests anywhere in Millburn. Allowing substantial variances can hurt a great town's plan.
In this case, the Chai Center is bringing in a team of lawyers, engineers, architects, planners, and traffic experts to the Zoning Board of Adjustment asking for a major variance to the approved Millburn Zoning Ordinance to build their 16,350 square foot building.
The Chai Center is asking for a special variance that would allow them to tear down two current homes and replace them with a massive new building at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Old Short Hills Road. They are requesting this exception to the town Zoning Ordinance even though they are more than an acre shy of the legal or required size.
This is not a neighborhood story or a religious issue but a fairness issue. If zoning calls for 3 acres to build a large house of worship or any other structure this size, why should an exception be made.
A local, registered, non-profit group of residents named Concerned Neighborhood Association of Millburn Township, Inc. (also called Save Millburn) is asking all interested residents to attend their public meetings and public meetings the township is holding on this issue. |
|
|
Save Millburn is the name for the local, registered, non-profit group,
The Concerned Neighborhood Association of Millburn Township, Inc. - Email Help@SaveMillburn.com
