By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Chabad Jewish Center won Hillsborough planning approval May 1 to convert a New Amwell Road residence into a house of worship and religious center.
The Chabad will turn a house that sets behind another at 26 New Amwell Road into the center while continuing to use the front house as a home for Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky and family.
The Board of Adjustment approval carries conditions, which include adhering to fire marshal decisions on evacuation and safety procedures. The number of people allowed in the rear building will be a maximum of 49. No one can live there, children who attend religious school must be no older than 6, and lighting must go off by 10 p.m.
The application did draw the “no” vote of John Stamler, who said it wasn’t a “great application, just an improvement on other versions.”
He said it was “bad planning” for the Chabad to assume its plan for merging the lots and multiple uses would be approved by the board.
”Other sites should have been explored,” he said. “I support any house of worship,” but added, “This multiple use plan is not a good fit for that particular lot and surrounding neighbors.”
He wanted the applicant to comply with all drainage conditions. He said he had seen “the poor drainage conditions in this area of town when there are storms.”
His biggest concern was safety, he said, particularly with an emergency evacuation.
