TUCKERTON, N.J. — More than two years after the former Bass River Elementary School was sold at auction, the Bass River Planning Board has approved plans to convert the vacant building into a private yeshiva and boarding school.
The board voted 6-0-1 to grant Maple River LLC the use variance needed to establish the religious school at 11 North Maple Avenue in New Gretna. Five affirmative votes were required under New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Law for the application to pass.
Lakewood developer Eli Blech purchased the former school in March 2022 for $757,500 after the Bass River Township School District no longer needed the building following the regionalization of its elementary education program.
The case in Tuckerton is the same as two cases in Jackson Township, where local school officials sold an elementary school and a middle school, which were then purchased by Lakewood-based entities with plans to convert the schools into yeshivas.
Another familiar face appeared in the Tuckerton case, lawyer Donna Jennings, who represents many applications for Lakewood-based developers in Jackson.
Public meetings drew standing-room-only crowds
The proposal became one of the most divisive land use issues in recent Bass River history, with hundreds of residents attending multiple public hearings. Interest became so great that several planning board meetings were moved to the local firehouse to accommodate the crowds.
Residents repeatedly voiced concerns about converting the former public school into a boarding school, raising questions about traffic, dormitory use, neighborhood character and the impact on the rural Pinelands community.
The original proposal underwent several revisions before the board rendered its decision.
Under the approved plan, the school will house a maximum of 35 boarding students, seven day students who will be transported by van, two resident rabbis and one caretaker.
Students living on the property will occupy former classrooms converted into dormitories containing between three and five beds each.
Planning board says legal precedent controlled decision
According to reporting by the Pine Barrens Tribune, Planning Board Attorney Christopher J. Norman told residents that the board’s responsibility was to follow established New Jersey law rather than public sentiment.
“The board’s decision… was one based strictly on its legal obligation to follow existing case law and judicial precedents governing religious schools,” Norman said.
Norman also stressed that the approval does not allow the facility to open immediately.
“They’ll have to demonstrate that they have both county and Pinelands approval before they can get a Certificate of Occupancy,” Norman told the newspaper. “It is not like we write them a blank check.”
Attorney Donna Jennings, representing Maple River LLC, argued before the board that a yeshiva is legally treated similarly to a seminary or monastery and qualifies as an “inherently beneficial” use under New Jersey law.
Jennings said religious institutions “enjoy a highly favored and protected status” that significantly limits the authority of municipalities to deny such applications through zoning decisions.
Conditions intended to reduce neighborhood impacts
One of the key conditions imposed by the planning board prohibits boarding students from having vehicles on the property.
Planning officials determined the restriction would minimize traffic concerns because the campus contains only 30 parking spaces and students will not be driving to or from the school.
Professional planner Andrew Janiw testified that the former school already contains classrooms, kitchen facilities, assembly areas and other infrastructure needed for educational use, making it well suited for adaptive reuse.
Blech previously explored other redevelopment options for the property, including county offices and a charter school. He also unsuccessfully sought commercial rezoning before proceeding with the yeshiva proposal.
What Happens Next
The project must still receive approvals from the Burlington County Board of Health for its septic system and from the New Jersey Pinelands Commission before a certificate of occupancy can be issued. The school cannot begin operating until those approvals are obtained.
The Bass River decision reflects the broad legal protections afforded to religious schools under New Jersey law. Even where substantial public opposition exists, local planning boards are often required to approve applications if they satisfy established legal standards governing inherently beneficial uses.
FAQ
Who owns the former Bass River Elementary School?
Maple River LLC, owned by Lakewood developer Eli Blech, purchased the property in 2022.
How many students will attend the school?
The approved plan allows for 35 boarding students and seven day students, along with two resident rabbis and one caretaker.
Can the school open now?
No. Additional approvals from the Burlington County Board of Health and the New Jersey Pinelands Commission are still required.
Why did the planning board approve the application despite opposition?
Board officials said New Jersey courts have consistently ruled that religious schools are inherently beneficial uses, limiting the board’s discretion to deny qualifying applications.
Sources: Bass River Planning Board proceedings; Pine Barrens Tribune.
The former Bass River Elementary School in New Gretna has been approved for conversion into a private yeshiva following a 6-0-1 vote by the Bass River Planning Board.
Former Bass River Elementary School in New Gretna approved for conversion into a private yeshiva.
