Sunday, October 01, 2006
BY ZACK NEEDLES
Special to the Times
PRINCETON TOWNSHIP -- The Princeton Regional Planning Board heard a presentation from the Orthodox Jewish sect known as Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Mercer County last week regarding its plans to build a center and adja cent home for its rabbi.
Chabad President Mort Cohen and Rabbi Dovid Dubov presented the board with a concept plan. Chabad wants to construct two buildings on 18.4 acres it purchased along the north side of State Road in the township. The first would be a 5,400-square-foot, single-family home for Dubov and his wife, who have lived in the area for 14 years.
The house would include a two- car garage, "oversized" dining rooms and living quarters to "ac commodate congregational activities," and a swimming pool.
Adjacent to the rabbi's home, Chabad plans to build a center to serve its entire organization in Mercer County.
The 10,600-square-foot, hexagonal-shaped center would include an 80-seat sanctuary that could be expandable to 280 seats, four classrooms, a kitchen and a few offices.
Religious law dictates that the home be near the center, Dubov said.
"According to Jewish law, you're not supposed to drive anywhere on the Sabbath," he said.
There was little negative feed back from planners or the public regarding Chabad's presentation on Thursday. Board member Phyl lis Marchand said Chabad seemed to be heading in the right direction as far as initial planning, and board's chief concern remains the uneven terrain of the site on which it plans to build and the amount of trees in the area.
"We were a little concerned with the slopes of the place, as well as making sure there will be a way to minimize tree disturbance," she said, adding those concerns are typical when dealing with any general building application.
The planners are attempting to minimize the disruption of the natural surroundings by building a small, 26-space parking lot in front of the center. The office complex located next to the site has agreed to provide an additional 20 spaces on nights and weekends, a solution that seemed to sit well with the board.
Dubov said he was satisfied with the presentation. "We're moving forward," he said. "We feel very positive about it."
© 2006 The Times of Trenton
BY ZACK NEEDLES
Special to the Times
PRINCETON TOWNSHIP -- The Princeton Regional Planning Board heard a presentation from the Orthodox Jewish sect known as Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Mercer County last week regarding its plans to build a center and adja cent home for its rabbi.
Chabad President Mort Cohen and Rabbi Dovid Dubov presented the board with a concept plan. Chabad wants to construct two buildings on 18.4 acres it purchased along the north side of State Road in the township. The first would be a 5,400-square-foot, single-family home for Dubov and his wife, who have lived in the area for 14 years.
The house would include a two- car garage, "oversized" dining rooms and living quarters to "ac commodate congregational activities," and a swimming pool.
Adjacent to the rabbi's home, Chabad plans to build a center to serve its entire organization in Mercer County.
The 10,600-square-foot, hexagonal-shaped center would include an 80-seat sanctuary that could be expandable to 280 seats, four classrooms, a kitchen and a few offices.
Religious law dictates that the home be near the center, Dubov said.
"According to Jewish law, you're not supposed to drive anywhere on the Sabbath," he said.
There was little negative feed back from planners or the public regarding Chabad's presentation on Thursday. Board member Phyl lis Marchand said Chabad seemed to be heading in the right direction as far as initial planning, and board's chief concern remains the uneven terrain of the site on which it plans to build and the amount of trees in the area.
"We were a little concerned with the slopes of the place, as well as making sure there will be a way to minimize tree disturbance," she said, adding those concerns are typical when dealing with any general building application.
The planners are attempting to minimize the disruption of the natural surroundings by building a small, 26-space parking lot in front of the center. The office complex located next to the site has agreed to provide an additional 20 spaces on nights and weekends, a solution that seemed to sit well with the board.
Dubov said he was satisfied with the presentation. "We're moving forward," he said. "We feel very positive about it."
© 2006 The Times of Trenton
No comments:
Post a Comment