Self-Storage Denied Near Houses

By Judy Smestad-Nunn

BRICK – A plan to build a self-storage facility between two rows of houses at 345 Drum Point Road was rejected by the Township Board of Adjustment on June 21, which was the third hearing for the application put forth by Del Corp Holdings LLC. The previous hearings took place in February and April of this year.

The developer applied to build nine, one-story self-storage buildings, a business office, a second building and leave an existing one-story residential structure in place, resulting in a total of 12 buildings on the 2.310-acre site, located between Huppert and Leswing Drive.

Local well-known architectural firm Barlo & Governale Associates designed the plan, which included 175 storage units of varying sizes. Over two dozen residents from the area attended the hearing, and about a dozen of them spoke out against the proposed development, said Zoning

(Storage - See Page 5)

By Alyssa Riccardi BRICK –

As you walk through the halls of Brick Memorial High School, you step into a vibrant world filled with colorful paintings.

Students can now look up at over 50 murals throughout the building, featuring inspirational quotes, beautiful illustrations, and more.

The high school made history as they held their first ever mural tour on June 13 hosted by the Mural Art Classes and Judy Harzer, who has been an Art Educator for 22 years and is the Mural and Art Club Advisor at Brick Memorial.

Before the tour began, Harzer gave a brief history of the mural program and how it has successfully developed into was it is today.

“Nine years ago, I encouraged students to paint murals as a way of collaborating and transforming the school environment. We all have a desire to create a space that reflects our own interests and values, and in painting the wall of Brick Memorial, the students had the opportunity to just that,” Harzer said. The impact of the first murals was immediate, and the talent and efforts of the organization commanded the

Former Illegal School Building Sold

By Judy Smestad-Nunn

BRICK - For the second time in about two years, the property that was once owned by Brick’s only Jewish house of worship has been sold.

Temple Beth Or, who ran the synagogue for decades, sold the property in March 2021 be- cause the buildings and grounds on the 4.6-acre parcel at the corner of Van Zile Road and Hendrickson Avenue had become too big for the shrinking congregation.

The new owners, David Gluck and the Congregation Kehilos Yisroel, who have a Madison Avenue ad - dress in Lakewood, paid $3.6 million.

The new owners proceeded to operate an illegal high school for boys on the site without obtaining township permits or safety inspections and was shut down by the county.

At the time, attorneys for Congregation Kehi- los Yisroel argued that a change of use approval was not needed since religious classes had been taught there in the past, but Brick officials maintained that it was a house of worship.

Gluck also purchased two homes in the area, located at 91 Hendrickson Avenue and 226

Van Zile Road, that were allegedly being used as dorms for the students. The homes have since been sold.

Since September 2021, there has been no activity at the site of the former temple, and no applications could have moved forward since (School- See Page 5)

Murals: Continued attention of the school community resulting in more requests for many more student work.

“In 2018, I recognized that our weekly club could no longer meet the demand for more murals. We were receiving dozens of requests and I noticed that the creation of large-scale public works was becoming one of the most popular art initiatives in the world. This was the moment when it seemed necessary to design and propose a curriculum for a comprehensive, hands-on mural making class,” Harzer said.

“I envisioned that this unique program would address the art historical context of public art, concept design, painting techniques, color theory, proposal writing and more. Art class would expand beyond the boundaries of the classroom into a public space, our hallways, while offering students real-world experiences,” Harzer added.

In addition to the more than 50 new murals that have been painted both Brick Memorial and Brick Township High School, students have painted murals in several of the township’s elementary schools, six mobile murals at the Freehold Raceway Mall and even some have been paid professionally to design and paint commercial murals for local businesses.

Harzer said how the program is the only officially approved high school class in the state of New Jersey and possibly the

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“We hope to further expand this program inspired by the belief that art builds and unites communities,” Harzer said.

Student Hannah Krinsky said she joined the Art Club freshman year and expressed how it was one of the best decisions of her life.

“I struggle heavily with anxiety so a new school with new people was incredibly intimidating. But Art Club quickly became a place where I could escape those stresses and surround myself with people who felt the same way. I made lifelong friends in art club,” Krinsky said.

During her freshman year, she painted the Bob Ross mural painting in the hallway and said it “serves as a reminder for myself and other students that were struggling for whatever reason that everything was going to be ok, despite what we were telling ourselves.”

Krinsky said seeing her art on her way to class every day and hearing the comments from her peers is such a gratifying experience.

“The feeling that knowing my artwork was easing stress and providing a small glimpse of joy into people’s lives is something I think every artist should experience. Which is why the Art Club and especially new mural class are so important,” Krinsky said.

Student Samantha Beale created three murals that are located inside the library at Brick Memorial.

Mural 1 titled ‘Never Give Up!’ features an anime-style drawing with Hiragana text. Beale painted the mural along with student Samantha Ritacco to express the interests of the student body.

“Considering we have manga here and the library is a safe space for students, we thought this would be a great place to put it,” Beale said. “It’s gotten so much attention; people are so excited to see their interests finally represented in school.”

Mural 2 is titled ‘Unity’ and is an original design by Beale. The painting consists of a mother nature figure holding Earth, with koi fish circling her.

“I drew it with the message of world peace, everyone coming together to protect our earth,” Beale said. “I want it to convey the message of in order for her to protect the Earth, we have to step in as well.”

Beale final mural titled ‘A Meadow of Peace’ also ties into the nature theme. Beale said she wanted to create something calming and soothing since the painting is on display in the library.

Harzer said the program provides students with many life skills. Despite the large number of students in the program, many are not going to college for art but rather engineering, business, history, etc.

“I’m so proud to be here to host this event with my students,” Harzer said. “It’s very near and dear to my heart... I am a practicing artist and I believe we should all practice what we teach.”

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Storage:

Continued From Page 1

Officer Christopher Romano.

“Bureau of Fire Safety Chief Kevin Batzel had some concerns in a letter he submitted, and the residents mirrored that,” Romano said. He was referring to fire safety concerns Batzel had “regarding the limited access, width and location of the buildings such that if someone stops in front of one building on either side of the road access, other vehicles will not be able to facilitate the property.”

The area is over 860 feet long, and if someone obstructs or is on opposite sides of the building between buildings 1 and 2, no one could access the rest of the structures, Batzel wrote. Also, the turning radius is very tight, he added.

Some of the other concerns of the residents who spoke during public comment was the narrowness of the lot, that the proposed storage

School:

Continued From Page 1 there was no money in their escrow account, said then-Mayor John Ducey.

In November 2022, Gluck proposed that the property could be used as a library and learning center, but no applications were ever filed with the township’s Planning Board.

On December 30, 2022 the property was sold again for $4.5 million, this time to Congregation Anshei Brick Inc., a self-described “non-profit entity,” located at 311 Blvd. of the Americas, suite 101 in Lakewood, an address listed as the office of Bar Law Group and SO buildings did not fit in with the dwellings, and that the proposal was not a suitable use for the site, Romano said.

Some expressed concern about the 18-foot height of the buildings, which the applicant agreed to lower to 14 feet, the zoning officer said.

“People didn’t like the look of it, they felt that it didn’t fit the lot due to the close proximity to residences,” he said.

John Jackson, the attorney representing the developer, said that a number of variances were needed for the project, including a Use Variance - which would need a super majority of votes from Board members - due to the self-storage facility not a permitted use within the existing Village Zone.

A variance is when a developer wants to build something that doesn’t conform to the rules set forth by the town. The Village Zone, established by ordinance in 2018, protects the township from high-density residential

Investments LLC, C/O Bar Law Group.

The law practice includes attorneys Jeffrey Rabinovich, Anne Miriam Blumenfrucht and Jeffrey Gold. Plans for the property are unclear since attempts by this newspaper to speak to someone at the law practice were unsuccessful, and our email was not answered.

Asked about the future of the site, Brick Township Business Administrator Joanne Bergin said she has no information on the sale. Township Planner Tara Paxton said the township has no oversight or involvement over private land sales.

“The only office that does is the tax assessor - but they only get notified once it hits development while providing a means to improve businesses. Only Drum Point Road, Mantoloking Road and Herbertsville Road are currently in the Village Zone.

Other variances needed include some for setbacks and waivers for buffers and parking spaces.

One positive aspect of the application is the storage facility is the quietest use for the parcel, which residents understood but wasn’t enough of a reason to sway them or Board members, Romano said.

Five of seven Board members voted in favor of a motion to deny the application, so the application failed.

The day after the Board of Adjustment meeting, attorney Jackson said it was too early to make a comment on how his client would be going forward.

“We thought it was a good plan,” Jackson said. “We’re assessing all our options at this time.” the County Clerk for the filing of the deed,” Paxton said in an email. “That is the only information we would be privy to.”

A call to the Ocean County Clerk did not uncover any additional details about the new owners.

Meanwhile, Brick’s Conservative Congregation, Temple Beth Or, the property’s original owner, has found and has moved into a smaller building at 135 Salmon Street, the site of the former Laurelton Funeral Home, located next to St. Thomas Lutheran Church.

Synagogue officials said that the site is more in line with the space they need for their 87-member congregation.