Mike Davis

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Jackson has seen a growing Orthodox Jewish population and many expect plans for a yeshiva are only a matter of time.

Orthodox Jews believe an ordinance to ban dormitories is anti-Semitic. Others think the town can't handle the development.

The ordinance bans construction of dormitories and limits school construction to three small zones.

JACKSON — The standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 erupted in cheers as the township council voted unanimously to ban the construction of dormitories in town.

During the public debate about the law, the five-member panel had been surprisingly mum on the issue. But three of the four council members present — Councilman Rob Nixon was absent due to a scheduling conflict — offered their vocal support before voting.

“The reality is this ordinance is not against any race or religion and only a bigoted person would think as much,” Councilman Barry Calogero said. “It’s an ordinance that would preserve our current suburban culture, reduce suburban sprawl and limit wanted overdevelopment in our township.”

MORE: Jackson council members silent on potential dorm ban

Like Calogero, supporters have propped up the ordinance changes — which would also limit school construction — as a way to preserve quality of life. But opponents said the new laws were rooted in anti-Semitism.

“I moved here from Lakewood. I don’t like Lakewood. I don’t like what happened to Lakewood,” said Pitney Lane resident Isaac Tawil. “We would like to support you, but there’s going to have to be a dialogue. You’re going to have to communicate with us.”

Dormitories are closely linked to the religious schools of the area's growing Jewish Orthodox community: Even those who spoke in favor of the dormitory ban referenced the neighboring town of Lakewood, where that growing community has led to traffic and a development boom.

“Lakewood is running out of room, so they’re expanding,” said Lawrence Street resident Michael Jordan. “Whether we like that or not, the reason they’re jumping to every town is because there’s no more room. If you let this happen here – if you let the dorms come in – the roads are going to get worse than they’ve ever been.”

There currently aren't any yeshivas in Jackson and the only "dorms" in town are housing units operated by Six Flags Great Adventure for its seasonal employees.

Avi Schnall, state director for Jewish advocacy group Agudath Israel, said last week that he wasn't aware of any Jewish group looking to build a school, yeshiva or dormitory in Jackson.

But at Thursday's council meeting, he questioned why, if the concern was development, the only ordinance to address it was targeting dormitories.

“Why are we not addressing that issue head on,” Schnall asked.

MORE: Is Jackson's dormitory ordinance anti-Semitic?

But during public meetings, members of the township's Orthodox Jewish community have cited the rural community and quiet life as a reason to leave Lakewood. All the ordinance change does is protect that, supporters said.

“We don’t need any more development in this town,” said North Cooksbridge Road resident Polly Sheehan. “We’re good the way we are. I don’t care what religion anybody is – we’re good. We don’t need any more development.”

The pair of laws adopted by the Jackson council on Thursday focuses solely on legal construction. Makeshift dormitories or schools — like the one that burned down in Lakewood last year — are already illegal under housing codes.

Under the ordinance:

Dormitories — defined as buildings "designed or converted to contain living quarters" used by schools, colleges or religious groups — would be unilaterally banned throughout the town.

All school construction — both public and private — would be restricted to three relatively small zones: Neighborhood Commercial; Limited Commercial; and Planned Mixed Unit Residential Development.

Changing culture

But even the faint suggestion of such construction has rekindled nearly three years of tension over community growth, development, and changing culture.

Over the last two years, Kosher grocery stores and fHebrew signs have become increasingly commonplace in Jackson, where Orthodox Jewish families are turning to avoid the congestion of Lakewood, whose population has skyrocketed beyond an estimated 99,000 residents.

There have been a series of public flare-ups among longtime Jackson residents, usually in the form of angry social media posts or outbursts at council meetings:

June 2014: The zoning board rejected plans for an all-girls' Orthodox high school. A state judge upheld the rejection last yera.

The zoning board rejected plans for an all-girls' Orthodox high school. A state judge upheld the rejection last yera. August 2015: The council strengthened its "no-knock" ordinance after residents complained of pushy real estate solicitors — identified as Orthodox Jews — who wouldn't take no for an answer.

The council strengthened its "no-knock" ordinance after residents complained of pushy real estate solicitors — identified as Orthodox Jews — who wouldn't take no for an answer. May 2016: Township officials demanded the police department instruct the Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch — a volunteer neighborhood patrol — to stay out of Jackson. When Police Chief Matthew Kunz demurred, it led to a public spat with Councilman Rob Nixon.

Township officials demanded the police department instruct the Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch — a volunteer neighborhood patrol — to stay out of Jackson. When Police Chief Matthew Kunz demurred, it led to a public spat with Councilman Rob Nixon. August 2016: The township filed a blockbusting complaint with the state and federal Justice Departments after video of a rabbi calling on Orthodox Jews to be "shtickle pioneers" and settle in Jackson went viral within the community.

But on Thursday, the mere mention of anti-Semitic comments was met with boos from the crowd.

“Read all the social media and tell me there’s no anti-Semitism,” Tawil said.

“You just said we weren’t anti-Semitic,” replied another resident from his seat.

“I didn’t say you. I said social media,” Tawil retorted.

JACKSON GROWS UP: Orthodox, senior communities on the rise

See you in court?

The new dormitory ordinance could be destined for a legal challenge, according to attorneys who have represented yeshivas in the past.

Attorney Glenda Rath described the ordinances last month as "nothing more than veiled discrimination targeting a specific religious group."

And in a letter to the Asbury Park Press, attorney Robert Greene wrote that the township "should consider itself placed on notice that its heavy-handed attempt to target a particular population could very well be challenged in an appropriate venue.

Both Rath and Greene are with the firm Storzer & Associates, which represented Gedola Na’os Yaakov, a group looking to build a yeshiva and dormitory in Ocean Township.

MORE: Threats rattle Jewish centers

After rejection on the local and state level, a federal judge ruled that the township violated the Religious Land Use And Institutionalized Persons Act, which prohibits placing burdensome land use regulations on religious groups.

"In this day and age of building walls against other people and cultures, fear and panic should not supplant our important constitutional values," Greene wrote.

Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com