Bobover Yeshiva Back
Before
the Planning Board
August 12, 2010
The application for the Bobover Yeshiva
once again landed before the Ramapo Planning Board on Tuesday
evening. This yeshiva would be built on the west side of 306 a short
distance from Babcock lane on a double lot site now occupied by a
single family home. Readers may recall that this is where the
notorious slaying of a young cow was carried out by an aspiring
kosher butcher.
Surprisingly, most of the issues that
had been brought up previously remained unsettled, so why was there
a meeting?
Bobover’s new application was for a
two-story school for 200 students, down from the original that
called for a three-story building for 250 students.
The applicant’s lawyer assured the
board that the full basement would not be used for instruction, and
that no catering would take place in the school. I find these
assurances not very assuring and hope that these limitations will be
spelled out in the board’s approve if it comes. Unfortunately, we
know that Ramapo almost never tries to stop violations in religious
schools. The other issues remaining include:
The proposed school has not yet gotten
an approval from the Department of Transportation.
The neighboring family that shares a
common driveway with the proposed school has still not agreed to
give up that driveway and relocate their driveway farther north.
The Hillcrest fire department is still
concerned that in case of an emergency the 20 foot entrance will
only allow for a single piece of equipment. It prefers 24 feet, but
conceded that 20 was the legal requirement.
The fire department still wants a
private fire hydrant in front of the school so that it doesn’t have
to use a fire hydrant that is on the other side of route 306. It is
also concerned that the existing hydrant might not provide an
adequate water supply in case of an emergency.
The new map still does not show the
location of playground equipment. The applicant assured the board
that a map showing the location of this equipment would be provided
at a later point.
Many neighbors still complained that
the 25-foot buffer zones are inadequate, and that, especially on
Sundays, they will not be able to enjoy peace and quiet with yeshiva
children playing just beyond their lot lines.
It was pointed out that East Ramapo
will not provide busing for pre-k students and the applicant was
asked about cars providing transportation for younger children. Note
that the school has asked for a reduction in parking from 13 to 10
cars!
Channel 12 News was on hand to
interview residents, and the report on TV showed gory pictures of
the unfortunate calf and the knives that were apparently used to
slaughter it.
Robert Rhodes
Chairman Preserve Ramapo
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