Jackson officials consider permit system as residents raise concerns over access and enforcement at a home operating as a house of worship in the neighborhood.
Jackson, NJ – A Jackson resident criticized a proposed street parking ban during a township meeting, arguing the measure unfairly impacts homeowners while failing to address ongoing issues tied to a nearby religious facility that is acting without final approvals from the township’s land use board.
Elanor Hannum spoke during public comment about restrictions affecting portions of Lehigh Boulevard and Adelphi Drive, questioning both the clarity of the ordinance and its broader impact on residents.
“So, we have a facility that was approved by the planning board… every time a facility in a high-density housing development… is going to severely impact the people who live there, and they have no say in the matter,” Hannum said about the prayer house operating within the residential development.
She also questioned enforcement of site plan requirements tied to the facility, asking, “At what point is this facility going to be forced to finish its site plan… or is it unending until they can raise enough money to build the facility and then put in their parking lot?”
Residents raise fairness concerns
Hannum argued the parking restrictions would create hardship for homeowners hosting guests, particularly in older neighborhoods not designed for multiple vehicles.
“You have people who cannot park in front of their own homes… Their guests can’t park,” she said. “Their elderly mother and their disabled sister has to park blocks away.”
She added that limiting parking on residential streets shifts the burden onto residents rather than addressing the root issue. “They’re going to park somewhere. You know that,” Hannum said.
Township attorney Greg McGuckin addressed the ordinance, explaining, “This ordinance would prohibit the parking on those two sides of those two streets,” as officials discussed possible alternatives.
Key Points
- Resident Elanor Hannum opposes parking restrictions tied to nearby facility
- Township reviewing permit system for limited guest parking access
- Concerns raised over fairness, enforcement, and neighborhood impact
Permit system under consideration
Council members discussed the possibility of a permit-based system that would allow residents to request guest parking for events, though details remain under review, questioning the logic of having to get permits for family gatherings and parties. Hannum questioned how such a system would function in practice, asking whether residents would need to apply each time they host gatherings.
Officials indicated the idea is still being evaluated, including how many permits might be allowed per household.
Councilman Chris Pollak also weighed in following Hannum’s remarks, praising her continued public engagement. “Thank you for being the person through the years who comes up here and speaks out,” Pollak said. “This is what being a good American is… we’re blessed to have you.”
The issue remains unresolved as township officials continue to consider how to balance parking enforcement with neighborhood concerns.
How the vote went down
Councilman Nino Borrelli voted no, saying, “We have to stop putting bandaids on these matters that come before us.”
“I’m voting no on this. I think this decision sets a dangerous precedent. Every time a building like this is forced into a residential neighborhood, it can lead to parking restrictions that unfairly burden the people who already live there. I’m not sure how any of this is fair to the residents who live there,” Councilman Chris Pollak said. “You’re disrupting neighborhoods, sometimes allowing these buildings to operate illegally, and we bend over backwards to ensure they get approved.”
Pollak blamed Mayor Jennifer Kuhn and Councilman Mordechai Burnstein for bending over backwards for certain builders and individuals in the town.
“We can’t change the rules for the people who are not doing the right thing,” Pollak said.
Councilman Ken Bressi voted yes, along with Councilman Mordechai Burnstein. Council Vice President Palmeri voted no.
Councilman Burnstein, who previously voted yes, voted no after the proposal had already been voted down 3-1.
How we got here
Last month, the Jackson Township Council voted to advance Ordinance 2026-04, establishing new no-parking zones along the south side of Lehigh Boulevard and the eastern side of Adelphi Drive, following growing complaints from residents over traffic congestion and safety concerns in the neighborhood.
On Tuesday, a councilman raised the alarm on a home operating as a house of worship, without receiving a certificate of occupancy from the township.
The neighborhood, which many residents have complained about in recent years is home to a house of worship, which the council acknowledged was operating without a certificate of occupancy.
During times of services cars park in the neighborhood on both sides of the street, blocking traffic and causing a distruption in the community.
Now, Council Prfesident Mordechai Burnstein is hoping a new ordinance to ban parking on two nearby streets will solve the problem, but his colleages were not fully convinced this was the right course of action.
Council President Burnstein explained that the ordinance was introduced as a condition of approval from the township’s Planning Board, which required the applicant behind a nearby development to request the restriction.
“This ordinance, if adopted, would establish a no-parking location on the south side of Lehigh Boulevard and the easternly side of Adelphi Drive,” Bernstein said. “This was a condition of approval from the Planning Board for the applicant to make this request to the governing body.”
Councilman Nino Borelli said he supported the measure, calling it a necessary step to improve quality of life for residents. “I’m glad to see this being introduced. It’s become a big quality-of-life issue in the area,” Borelli said. “I just hope it gets enforced for everybody.”
One councilman questioned whether this is something the council will have to do every time the common issue across town pops up and noted that the need for such an ordinance has fundamentally changed neighborhoods across Jackson.
Councilman Chris Pollock abstained, saying he wanted more clarification before the second reading.
“I’d like to better understand the need for this and how it affects the area,” Pollock said. “I’m not sure if this is something we’ll have to do every time we approve a project like this, or if it’s going to fundamentally change our residential areas.”
Council cites long-term parking issues tied to nearby institution
Councilman Giuseppe Palmeri suggested the house of worship is operating illegally and not in accordance with its approvals from the planning board.
Palmeri noted that while the ordinance may offer short-term relief, it does not resolve what he described as the root cause of the problem — a nearby religious institution that has yet to fulfill its site plan obligations, including the construction of a 53-space parking lot.
“This does not address the long-term issue,” Palmeri said. “A contributor to this congestion is a nearby religious institution that has not fulfilled its site plan conditions. My question is simple — how is an institution allowed to operate without a certificate of occupancy? This ordinance is a band-aid. The real solution is accountability.”
“Because those conditions have not yet been completed, vehicles are now spilling onto the streets, creating congestion and safety concerns,” he added. “The real solution would be accountability. Once a site plan is approved, all conditions must be met. A certificate of occupancy must be issued before operating, not after. When the process is in is reversed, it creates confusion and unfairly places the burden on nearby residents. This is not acceptable, and it’s not fair to the people who live in that neighborhood. I will vote yes on this ordinance because it does offer some immediate relief, but I want to be clear, this is temporary, and we need to address the root cause so residents are not left dealing with the consequences of non-compliance.”
Palmeri said he voted yes only because it provides immediate relief for residents, but urged township officials to ensure stricter enforcement of development conditions going forward.
Enforcement put in Mayor Jennifer Kuhn’s lap by Council President
Burnstein added that the council has been in contact with the business administrator and police leadership to ensure enforcement once the signage is installed. “Our job as a legislative body is to create the ordinances,” he said. “It’s then the administration’s responsibility to make sure they are enforced. If we’re going to create ordinances, we better see them enforced.”
- Ordinance 2026-04 establishes no-parking zones on Lehigh Boulevard and Adelphi Drive
- Councilman Pollock abstained, seeking more information before final adoption
- Officials tied congestion to a nearby institution that has yet to complete required parking
The ordinance passed on first reading and will return for a second reading and public hearing at the council’s next meeting.