JACKSON - A newly appointed zoning board member resigned Wednesday, hours before a number of crude social media posts he authored about the Orthodox Jewish community in Jackson and Lakewood came to light.

Larry Schuster, a co-owner of Schuster's Car Wash in Toms River, said his resignation came because of family commitments. He has custody of his daughter on Wednesday evenings, when the board meets.

“I want to be involved. There’s so much going on in town and I wanted to volunteer my time,” Schuster said in an interview. “But that’s a major conflict. I had to make the choice to be able to take my daughter to dinner."

Schuster, 49, denied that the resignation was related to a Wednesday night disclosure of social media posts by him lambasting or criticizing — often in a crude nature — members of the Orthodox Jewish community.

The posts were forwarded to council members and news organizations hours after Schuster submitted his resignation, he said.

Schuster was named an alternate on the township zoning board last week, filling an open spot after the council removed Anthony Marano following his arrest on charges of possessing child pornography.

MORE: Jackson zoning board member booted after arrest

At the same meeting, council members suggested future appointments could undergo background checks and answer questionnaires to ensure appointees "have the utmost ethics and best interests of all the residents of Jackson," as Councilman Barry Calogero said.

Until Thursday morning, Schuster was an administrator of a Facebook group almost entirely populated by such content by users "voicing your own opinions and any comments that are made in this group are made in jest and have no actual meaning," as the group describes the forum.

"Housewives of Lakewood," he captioned one photo of Orthodox Jewish women being arrested on charged they fraudulently received government benefits. "Free health care, social security and food stamps. Live on Bravo."

Last year, he commented online that — if he won the lottery — he'd buy every "for sale" house in Jackson and dedicate it as open space.

“If that makes me a bad guy, so be it,” he said of the online comment.

Schuster said he was unaware that the social media posts had been sent to township officials until a Press reporter mentioned them.

But they didn't play a role in his resignation, Schuster insisted.

“I think it’s taken out of context, some of the stuff,” Schuster said. “I spoofed a Bravo show. I commented on stuff, but didn’t post anything.

“I didn’t know this was an issue. I heard nothing about this for a week, until after I resigned,” he said.

Over the last two years, clashes over changing culture have picked up in Jackson as its Orthodox Jewish community continues to expand. Discussions about real estate solicitations, a Lakewood-based first aid squad and construction of schools and dormitories have boiled over into hot-button issues, largely at public meetings and on social media.

Most recently, the township changed an ordinance governing the right-of-way lawn between the sidewalk and the street, effectively banning the construction of any "eruvs," wires strung between utility poles that allow people in the Jewish faith to carry objects and children outside the home on the Sabbath and certain holidays.

To learn about another Jewish custom, watch a video at the top of the page.

RELATED: Eruv plans derailed in Jackson

While township officials described the changes as simply updating an old law, emails between council members leaked to the Press show that it was only enforced after residents complained about eruvs.

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