Approximately 100 Frum Jackson Township residents this evening came out to oppose the Township’s proposal to ban dormitories in the Town – a move many feel is targeting the Jewish community.
The proposal would ban dormitories anywhere in the Township – including residential, commercial and industrial zones.
However, despite the plan to vote on the item tonight, the Township delayed the vote, claiming there was a technical issue – as the item would need to first head to the Planning Board.
An attorney for a Frum applicant said this a discriminatory act by the Township, and he reportedly intends to sue.
A resident says he sees this as clear anti-Semitism.
“There’s no question they’re doing this to try and keep the Jews out.”
With Lakewood busting at it seams, many Frum families have moved out and into the neighboring towns – including Toms River, Brick and Jackson. Toms River and Jackson each already have over 100 Frum families living there.
Agudah New Jersey Director Rabbi Avi Schnall says he’s glad to see the community come or and voice their concerns.
“We are very grateful that so many members of the comunity came tonight to let their voices be heard,”Rabbi Schnall told TLS. “It is so important that the council sees that many residents of Jackson are opposed to this ordinance, and they are engaged and will speak up when necessary.”
The proposal is expected to be voted on at a future meeting.
I think it’s important to note that the ordinances in Toms River or similarly created because of trying to keep the Jews out. I have always been AirBnB rentals in TR recently when a Frum person started listing his house they got all up in arms and are enacting a ordinance against it.
I believe there are close to a thousand orthodox families in Jackson TWSP and well over a hundred in Toms River
450 families blei ayan arah live in jackson
nope lol but who cares but someone there counted 165 frum there tonight
the prob was banning all dorms not just residental….we domt want dorms in our areas but why a all out ban ….
“KOL Haben Hayeora Tashlichuhu”. – Vihameivin Yovin
The problem is in Lakewood you are used to overcrowding. In Jackson we are not and we do not want overcrowding. We want to keep our quality of life the way it is. We try and fight to keep our land, our space, our neighborhoods the way they are. Every fight that comes from lakewood tries to change this about jackson.
Obvious antisemitism. Just like long prison sentences for drug offenders is anti-black.
I don’t really understand how banning dorms in Jackson prevents anyone from moving to Jackson. How does this only affect Jewish people? Are Jewish people required to live in dorms? How is this anti-anything other than just not wanting super high density housing in town that, according to the frum that spoke last night, has the neighborhood feel that is influencing the move to Jackson?
I support this ban why would any sane person want to bring in the overcrowding lakewood has? However I think they should amend this ban and allow the dorm in an industrial zone
To CB. We can agree that nobody – including Jewish residents – want overcrowding like Lakewood. Responsible zoning does not necessitate blanket clauses to “ban” dormitories. That is why this proposal smells like a front for a different agenda.
I am very much part of the Lakewood orthodox but I agree with #7
Also, anyone ever hear of ‘galus’?
The issue at hand is not the dorms or other restrictions, it’s the reasoning why they are doing it. Any sane person agrees that overcrowding or overdeveloping is not wanted in Jackson nor does it belong in this area, however if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, chances are it is a duck……..
If Jackson just prohibited dorms in residential neighborhoods it would be one thing — and, I have no problem with that. But, banning dorms outright makes me believe there is a very obvious underlying reason for the prohibition.
I see no reason why dorms cannot be located in areas zoned for schools or commercial areas.
Dormitories= yeshivos= bracha
yes they may bring brocha but when the first dorm opens next door to you- you will be the first one yelling about people loitering about etc……
@smarter That is true, but maybe the Jackson neighbors of a yashivot dorm in a residential area wouldn’t think so.
No dorms should be allowed in jackson because we dont have colleges here plain and simple………
1. General rule. No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution, unless the government can demonstrate that imposition of the burden on that person, assembly or institution
a) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and
b) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
2. Scope of Application. This subsection applies in any case in which—
a) the substantial burden is imposed in a program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability; or
b) the substantial burden affects, or removal of that substantial burden would affect, commerce with foreign nations, among the several States, or with Indian tribes, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability; or
c) the substantial burden is imposed in the implementation of a land use regulation or system of land use regulations, under which a government makes, or has in place formal or informal procedures or practices that permit the government to make, individualized assessments of the proposed uses for the property involved.
Let the lawyers duke it out. Yeshiva Gedola Na’os Yaakov, Inc. won in Ocean township.
How does a prohibition on dorms become an undue burden on ANY religion? This is the part I don’t get. Is there part of Jewish law that requires dorms?
i was born and raised in lakewood and due to the fact of overcrowding i have moved out. i still work in lakewood but the true to the matter of this all is that noone wants it to be like this in lakewood
Is it discriminatory that residents in a town want to maintain their peaceful quality of life? Why so upset? If there are no colleges in a town why the need for dorms? OR is there a plan for it to be used as a bed & board town for other purposes. One questions the ulterior motives of what is really going on.
I too am perplexed about dorms being religious. Don’t think a dorm is categorized as a religious place of worship or dwelling. If the township doesn’t want it, then so be it.
I would not care if this was a Catholic,methodist, or muslim dorm. I wouldn’t want it in my neighborhood. And I’m sorry no one trying to keep anyone out of anywhere. This is a free country you can live whereever you choose to.