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 LLP
Attorney Trust Account
Please mail check to:
Connell Foley LLP
85 Livingston Avenue
Roseland NJ 07068,
Attn: Kevin J. Coakley
(Funds only distributed with consent
of the Association's trustees)
Tuesday Feb 14, 2012 1:00am
The Chai Center was turned down by the Zoning Board
in their request for relief from multiple variances.
The bottom line was the Zoning Board just felt that needing 40% more land for such a large structure was not justified. They did not feel the applicant proved their case of mitigating the impact of having such a large building on an undersized piece of property. Lot size, traffic, setbacks and parking were the key issues in the end. The Millburn Board of Adjustment met at Millburn High School from 7pm until close to 1am. While only about 100 people were in the auditorium at the end of the voting, perhaps as many as 300 to 400 attended all or part of the hearing. The case was officially decided as the Board turned down the Chai Center applicant's request for multiple variances. If you were involved as a supporter in anyway we thank you and will keep you posted with details and any other developments. GO TO PRESS MEDIA section for local press stories.
Notes of all meetings to date are below
in section called Meeting Summaries
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A summary of the most recent hearing and all others to date.
Also going to the Media/Press section will give you other details.
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Read more...
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Photo: September 26, 2011 - Millburn Zoning Board of Adjustment Chairman Joseph Steinberg (arms crossed) listening to The Chai Center lawyer and his client Rabbi Mendel Bogomilsky. |
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. Also if you go to the Media/Press section above, you can read a summary of the different meetings held to date. Also see the YouTube videos below.
Photo: Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing, 8:45pm, October 25, 2010, Millburn Town Hall |
- Millburn zoning allows a house of worship to be built in a residential area but requires it to be on a minimum of three 3 acres.
- The Chai Center group has only 1.815 acres of the required 3 acres even after combining their properties at number 1 and 7 Jefferson Avenue (corner lot facing Old Short Hills Road).
- The Chai Center is asking that the height of the structure be allowed to go above town approved height of 32 feet.
- The Chai Center proposes many of the 48 car parking spaces be allowed to be closer to neighbors properties than the required 50-foot buffer.
- The Chai Center proposes that entrances/exits be added on Old Short Hills Road which is already heavy with traffic and is the main thoroughfare for ambulances to and from St. Barnabas Hospital.
- The Chai Center proposes large signage or identification on Old Short Hills Road.
- The Chai Center wants to have a screened dumpster enclosure, an underground storage facility for storm water, fences, walkways and extensive landscaping.
- The Chai Center, in deference to local area, will build the large structure to look like existing Dutch Colonial homes in the area.
- The Chai Center is currently conducting services and holding classes with many cars parking on the front yard, back yard and on neighboring streets.
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Save Millburn is the name for the local, registered, non-profit group,
The Concerned Neighborhood Association of Millburn Township, Inc. - Email Help@SaveMillburn.com
