According to an Asbury Park Press article dated July 2, 2024, “the first new Orthodox Jewish synagogue, or shul, in Toms River has been approved by the township’s Board of Adjustment, which voted last month to legitimize the operations of Khal Bnei Yisuschur in North Dover.
This is the first shul to be approved in Toms River since the township, under pressure from the federal Department of Justice, lowered the number of acres needed for a house of worship from 10 to 2 in 2021.
Also known as KBY Learning Center, the shul received permission from the board to consolidate two lots, located at 1767 Whitesville Road and 186 Jumping Brook Drive, to create a legal house of worship on a property that already contains a large single-family home, which will be used as a shul and a residence for a rabbi. Rabbi Ozer Babad is the rabbi at the shul.
A secondary residence was also permitted on the property. Babed said in an online interview that 200 or 300 people a day have been worshipping at the shul.
KBY Learning received variances to parking in the front yard of the structure, as well as to permit more than one building on the property, and to allow the house of worship to be closer to the property line than currently permitted.
Worship services had already been taking place at the site.
The zoning board is also considering an application by Dov Roth to use a 2,873-squard foot, 1/1/2 story home at 162 Stevens Road as a shul and to build a 23,400-square-foot asphalt parking lot and other site improvements on the land. The applicant is seeking variances for minimum lot width and side-yard setback, among other things.
Testimony has already been heard in that application, and is expected to continue at the July 11 zoning board meeting.”
Below is the actual DOJ Consent Order with Toms River, detailing the requirements. Did the Zoning Board approval, combining 2 lots to achieve 2 acres satisfy the requirements of the agreement, or did the Zoning Board “let this go through for the mayor’s friends and supporters.” What are the true requirements and who is here to enforcement them in Toms River, if Mayor Rodrick and the Township Council remains silent and the Zoning Board receives no guidance. More investigation is required, but the residents of Toms River need to know.