NANUET - Clarkstown's building inspector has denied the permit application filed by the operators of a Ramapo girls school that want to buy Grace Baptist Church.

Because the church campus has not been inspected for operation as a school of general instruction in nearly two decades, the property's use for that purpose has expired under town code, according to documents obtained by The Journal News through a Freedom of Information request.

READ THE DOCUMENT HERE

Ateres Bias Yaacov Academy of Rockland would need to obtain a variance from Clarkstown's Zoning Board of Appeals in order to receive permission to set up its school on the Demarest Avenue property, according to the denial dated Jan. 11.

Ateres also would need to submit plans for classroom modifications, occupancy, exits, parking requirements, fire safety requirements and demolition plans, according to town documents.

Additionally, a wastewater questionnaire would need to be submitted to Rockland County Sewer District No. 1, according to the denial signed by town building plans examiner Charles Maneri.

“We are disappointed in the decision and will explore all available options," Ateres' lawyer, Ira Emanuel, said Thursday.

Emanuel submitted an application in late December on behalf of Ateres' dean, Rabbi Aaron Fink, that stated the historic church's campus was in "almost move-in condition" with all the amenities needed to run a facility for girls in nursery school through grade 12.

Emanuel also stated in the application that the church's prayer center, auditorium, social halls, lunchroom, classrooms, kitchen and offices need only a paint job and minor repairs for immediate occupancy.

An earlier appraisal done by the town determined the property needed a new boiler and asbestos abatement. Also, changes made to town code in 2016 mandate that schools, churches and other traffic-intensive uses be situated along town or county roads.

Ateres' application also seemed to lay out a timeline, stating that its permit to operate out of a set of modular trailers in New Hempstead expires on May 22 and cannot be renewed. Scheduling a ZBA appearance could entail a three-month wait.

Ateres currently serves 300 students and hopes to return to its capacity of about 450 children. The school employs about 75 faculty members.

The permit denial was the latest development in the Jewish school's efforts to acquire the property.

The proposed sale, placed at between $4 million and $5 million, has met with resistance from neighbors opposed to traffic congestion and other overcrowding conditions they fear the school could bring. It spawned the formation of Greater Nanuet CUPON (Citizens United to Protect Our Neighborhood), as well as several online petitions.

Grace Church sits across the street from the Nanuet school district's Highview School and in close proximity to the district's main campus.

District officials have raised concerns about the potential of adding what would be in essence another school, although Ateres' application stated it would be glad to coordinate its arrival schedule with the public schools.

The academy's attempt to qualify for issuing $5 million in tax-exempt bonds to finance the purchase also hit a snag when a public hearing was shelved because Fink hadn't received initial town approvals.

Read more on this topic:

Nanuet church in 'almost move-in condition' for academy: Application

Nanuet church $5M sale: Hearing shelved amid lack of approvals

Twitter: @Bee_bob