Planning board allows invited guests limited access from 18 Pit Road to synagogue

The Township of Springfield Planning Board unanimously approved a narrow amendment Dec. 15 allowing invited guests and persons authorized by Congregation Israel to use the existing driveway at 18 Pit Road to reach the synagogue at 339 Mountain Avenue, while leaving in place prohibitions on creating a driveway, access road or parking lot.

Counsel for Congregation Israel, Clara Herelic, told the board the synagogue bought 18 Pit Road in July 2022 and is not seeking any site-plan changes or additional variances; the amendment would remove a phrase in the memorialized resolution that currently limits access through lot 39 to the residents and their family. "We are not changing the way we're building the building," Herelic said. "We're not asking to tear down that single-family home to make a parking lot. The house will remain a single-family home." She said the carveout would permit invited guests and people authorized by the applicant to park in the existing driveway (which holds about three to five vehicles) and walk to the synagogue, a use she described as consistent with ordinary residential rights.

Neighbors and their attorney opposed the change as a significant modification that should have required new public notice. A neighbor’s attorney said he had a video taken in late September that, he said, showed children coming through the gate at 18 Pit Road and loud activity at the property. "When there's an event at the synagogue, kids pour through that gate," the attorney told the board, urging enforcement of the original restriction that sought to prevent trespass through private yards. Robert Prazner, who lives at 14 Pit Road, said people park on both sides of the street and walk through neighbors' yards to reach the synagogue, and said the community fears the amendment will loosen longstanding limits.

Josh Smileo, president of the synagogue, disputed claims that cars are regularly left in front of neighbors' homes and said driveway use is limited to pre- and post-Sabbath periods or special events when overflow parking occurs on public streets. "The only time cars are parked there are on a Friday night for our services," he said, adding that cars cannot be moved on the Sabbath.

Board professionals told the board they had reviewed the requested change and did not find notice issues under the Municipal Land Use Law for this limited modification, and an engineering/planning reviewer recommended support because the change does not alter variances or create impervious improvements. Members also discussed enforcement: code enforcement, not the planning board, would address any future misuse.

After discussion, the board entertained a motion to approve the amendment and approved it by roll call, with all members present voting yes. The motion authorized invited guests or persons authorized by the applicant to use the existing driveway at 18 Pit Road for limited parking and pedestrian access to the synagogue, while retaining the resolution's other prohibitions on constructing a driveway, access road, roadway or parking lot.

The board placed letters and the neighborhood-submitted video into the public record and noted that code enforcement would handle potential violations going forward. The file will be reflected in the meeting minutes to be published after the new year.