Chabad of The Shore's Synagogue Application to be Decided Monday Night

The Long Branch Zoning Board of Adjustment is expected to vote tonight on Chabad of the Shore's application to build a synagogue in West End.

The board will ask any final questions they have and the public will also have a chance to be heard before the board votes on the application.

The meeting will be at Long Branch City Hall at 7 p.m.

Chabad wishes to build a two-story building that contains a 200-seat sanctuary, a 200-person capacity multipurpose room with a kitchen on the second floor, and five classrooms, office space and a room for religious services on the second floor. A large, 51-space parking lot in the rear of the property also is included in the plan.

The plan would include the demolition of an old movie theater on Ocean Avenue and two stores south of the structure; Mike's West End Deli, which is now vacant, and Lou's Uniforms. There are also two vacant apartments above the stores.

A synagogue is not a permitted use in the commercial zone, so Chabad of the Shore is looking to obtain a use variance to utilize the site and also obtain some minor bulk variances for parking and setbacks.