Hatikvah School Exceeds Permitted Enrollment

The Hatikvah International Academy Charter School may have another issue to deal with.

On Tuesday, Sept. 11,  Gregory Potkulski, director of the township Department of Planning and Engineering, sent the school a letter stating that its enrollment currently exceeds the limit set in a use variance granted the school on July 7, 2011.

“Testimony presented at the hearing indicated that total school enrollment would be limited to no more than 152 students,” state the letter. “Therefore, because total enrollment now exceeds that number, the applicant and property owner are in violation of the terms of the approval, and as a result, are in violation of the Township's land-use ordinance," said the letter.

“If the violation is not cured within 20 days of the date of this letter, the Township of East Brunswick reserves the right to take appropriate legal action that may include filing a complaint in municipal court, seeking injunctive relief, and/or seeking any other relief available under law," the letter continued.

Dan Gerstein, spokesman for Hatikvah, issued the following statement:

“The school is are aware of the concern and is reviewing the approved plans with the township's engineer to determine if any modifications are necessary."

Gerstein did not comment on the school's current enrollment.

According to the letter, the East Brunswick Zoning Board of Adjustment granted a use variance, as well as related bulk variances, to operate the school at 367 Cranbury Road. The area is a C-1 Professional Office District. The letter was sent to the school to notify it that it is in violation of the terms of that approval and to demand that the violations be fixed immediately.

On Tuesday, Potkulski said he had not been contacted by the school yet.

.

Follow Patch on Facebook. Visit www.facebook.com/EastBrunswickPatch and like us. You can also find us on Twitter at twitter.com/EBrunswickPatch .