Toms River zoning board revisits Chabad variance issue Feb. 18

The bitterly-contested operation of a Jewish meeting center and house of worship in a northern Toms River neighborhood returns to the township Zoning Board agenda February 18.

As with the previous public meeting in which the proposal was addressed, the venue will be Toms River High School North.

Chabad Jewish Center of Toms River, which is headquartered on the Church Road tract, seeks a use variance in order to continue conducting operations at the center. The variance is required under a zoning amendment enacted in 2009.

The previous meeting, attended by more than a thousand residents, centered on clarification of whether a variance is necessary. The Board of Adjustment determined it to be the case.

Rabbi Moshe Gourarie's application falls within a framework of a larger issue of a rapidly-growing Orthodox Jewish population in Lakewood, which has impacted surrounding communities including Toms River, Brick, Howell and Jackson.

Realtors enlisted to secure housing for new arrivals embarked on an agressive campaign to buy properties, triggering enforcement of "no-knock" ordinances and, in some instances, neighborhood backlash in the form of lawn-sign-sized "don't-sell" placards.

Subsequently, signs  also cropped up, claiming quick cash for homes.