Ocean Township rejects proposed Yeshiva Boarding School

A controversial plan for a proposed Yeshiva boarding school that would house nearly 100 students in former elementary school on Logan Road in Ocean Township, Monmouth County was rejected by Zoning Board of Adjustment Tuesday night.  

The application by Yeshiva Gedola Na'os Yaakov had been discussed in meetings for over a year, and NJ Advance Media reports the decision followed a three-hour special meeting held at Ocean Township High School.

The proposed Yeshiva included enough dorms for 96 students between the ages of 18 to 22 who have not been allowed to leave the property and who would have been supervised 24 hours a day, according to NJ Advance Media.

Residents have expressed concerns about property values possibly going down and noise and other disturbances that could be generated full-time students living at the boarding school.

The Asbury Park Press reports public testimony was cut shore after the Board's attorney, Mark Steinberg, informed the crowd the time frame to vote on the application had exceeded the 190-day limit and because the applicant had denied an extension, a vote had to take place or the application would be automatically approved.

The applicant can appeal the Board's decision.