The Jackson zoning board this evening voted to side with a zoning officer who demanded that a garage needs a use variance in order to maintain it as a Shul.
Approximately three years ago, during Covid, Rabbi Moshe Matzliach opened a Shul in his garage in order to give the neighborhood a place to pray.
The garage Shul received violations for its use as a Shul, and the zoning officer demanded that the Shul receive and use variance in order to continue using it as a shul.
Attorneys argued that no matter if it is an attached garage or a detached garage, using a garage for religious purposes should not require any use variance, just as if a resident decided to use his garage for exercise purposes or as a pool house, etc.
The board this evening voted unanimously to the side with the zoning officer.
”Rav Shmuel Kamenetzky said we have to fight this,” Rabbi Matzliach told TLS.
Attorneys plan on fighting the board on RLUPA grounds.
How about just get the variance??
How about the board follow the law.
To comment 1
If the zoning board rules stands, this can get very dangerous as they may decide tomorrow that you can only use your garage for this and not for that that and that….
Give them and ounce of POWER a they will not be satisfied… next they will demand a pound and then a kilo….,
What’s the difference? They still hold their prayer meetings anyway even though they are not supposed to. It seems like a lot of people don’t seem to care about the neighbors in this situation. All the extra cars cause a safety issue. You shouldn’t have a house of worship for any religion in the middle of a neighborhood. Jackson, for the most part, has forgotten about the citizens that have been there for a while and is catering to one group of people. It’s about time the town stood up for other people.
How bout not only worrying about the law but also consider the feelings of our neighbors and do what is also “Right”
What is that you are referring to as “Right”?