Zoners reject application for assisted living facility
BY ELANAARON Correspondent

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The representative of an applicant which sought approval from the Zoning Board of Adjustment to build an assisted living facility in town says court action will follow the board's denial of the application for a use variance.

The Village for Healthcare and Rehabilitation of Workmen's Circle of Freehold Township wanted to service elderly Jewish residents of central New Jersey by offering a 152-bed nursing home and a 37-suite assisted living residence at Halls Mill Road and Route 33. The facility was designed to provide strictly kosher meals and religious and cultural programs and services.

The proposed skilled nursing home was designed as a two-story structure, totaling about 100,000 square feet, and the assisted living residence was a separate two-story structure of about 44,000 square feet. The plan also included an adult medical day care center and physicians offices to serve residents of the facility.

The applicant was asking the zoning board to grant a use variance that would have permitted the construction of a residential facility in a light industrial zone.

At its June 12 meeting, the zoning board denied the use variance in a 6-1 vote, which prompted Workmen's Circle community outreach coordinator Jonathan Jaffe to say, "We're going to appeal to the Superior Court."

"We're extremely disappointed and frankly stunned by the decision of the zoning board," Jaffe said. "We've had two meetings, both of which were a full house, and not one opponent."

"The Village worked long and hard in preparation for the architectural plans, which were beyond reproach," said attorney Rick Brodsky, who represented the applicant. "We satisfied the legal specifications, there were standing-room only crowds for all the hearings and there was not a single objector. Those supporters included the full gamut of residents. There were many Freehold Township residents, residents who live immediately adjacent to the proposed site who spoke in favor of it, and it was denied."

The site for the proposed project was on Halls Mill Road near Business Route 33, on 14 acres that is currently zoned for light industrial use. In order to obtain a use variance, representatives of the applicant had to prove that construction of The Village would be inherently beneficial for the community.

Some members of the public at the June 12 meeting appeared disturbed by the fact that they were not allowed to speak in favor of the application despite an indication from the board at a previous meeting that they would be permitted to do so.

Supporters of the application were allowed to ask questions relating to the plan, but were not allowed to make statements.

Township planner Guy Leighton said, "The board's feeling was that it would compromise the (township's) zoning plan. It wasn't the appropriate location."

Leighton cited concerns that possible future adjacent construction would be impeded due to possible complaints by residents of the assisted living facility.

"We're not against the particular structure, just the location," he said.

Literature describing the proposed project stated that "The Village is to be built and operated by the New Jersey Workmen's Circle, a nonprofit organization which owned and operated a skilled nursing home in Elizabeth for nearly 60 years. It is relocating to Freehold Township to be closer to where many members live and to be better able to serve their needs."