Monsey, NY - Ramapo Considers Approving Bobov Yeshiva at Site of Cow Slaughter
The Zoning Board of Appeals granted Bobover Yeshiva a variance to build a two-story school at 609 Route 306 in Ramapo. (File photo by Vincent DiSalvio/The Journal News)Monsey, NY - The Planning Board will consider final site plan approval tomorrow for a Route 306 religious school that a Hasidic Jewish congregation ran illegally for a few years and where a calf was slaughtered.
The request for final site plan approval by the Bobover Yeshiva of Monsey is on the agenda, along with an adult student housing proposal on Route 306, across from Brick Church Road.
The school will be a maximum height of 24 feet, for no more than 200 students in 15 classrooms. The students would be 7 to 13 years of age, with pre-kindergarten classes.
The Bobover proposal will again draw opposition from neighbors, who remember the congregation opened the school inside a house without town approvals about three years ago.
The Health Department cited the congregation for sewage issues, operating a kitchen, and slaughtering a calf.
Remnants of the cow were found dripping blood outside, and the head and intestines were stored in a classroom. The congregation paid a $5,000 fine for allowing the kosher slaughtering.
The congregation was forced to close down the school in August 2009, moving their students to a school in Spring Valley.
The proposed school comes on the heels of Ramapo approving a four-story dormitory school on nearby Babcock Lane and the development of nearly 500 houses on Patrick Farm. A large dormitory rabbinical school by Tartikov is being proposed in the area, but remains stalled in federal court.
Ramapo Planning Board delays decision on Route 306 yeshiva
The Ramapo Planning Board heard from both sides on Tuesday night before adjourning a decision on whether a Hasidic Jewish congregation can open a controversial two-story yeshiva along Route 306 near Pomona.
The board members told Bobover of Monsey to resolve three issues by Oct. 19, when the board would again consider final site plan approval and a special permit to operate a school in a residential area.
The congregation needs a final review letter from the Hillcrest Fire Department concerning location of a hydrant on the property, a wider street and other issues.
The congregation must resolve an issue of a shared driveway with a neighbor, who will get a new driveway.
The third issue is getting the written approval for a driveway from the New York State Department of Transportation.
Opposed by many of its neighbors, the congregation's plan calls for knocking down the existing house and building a two-story yeshiva on 2 acres at 609 Route 306. The yeshiva can house a maximum of 200 students in 15 classrooms.
The congregation's plans drew opposition from many neighbors. The neighbors have expressed concerns about traffic, safety for the children and the congregation's history of health and safety violations.
Bobover operated the school illegally for two years before closing down in August 2009. Adding to the controversy, a man studying kosher butchering slaughtered a calf at the school, with remnants found dripping blood outside the building and animal's head and intestines stored in a classroom. The congregation paid a $5,000 fine.
The slaughtering issue was not raised at the Planning Board hearing by opponents.
The proposed school came on the heels of Ramapo's approval of a four-story dormitory school on nearby Babcock Lane and the development of nearly 500 houses on the 200-plus acre Patrick Farm. A large dormitory and rabbinical school by Congregation Rabbinical College of Tartikov is being proposed in the area, but remains stalled in federal court.
