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Resident urges investigation after neighbors say 140 Old Tappan Road is being used as house of worship
Summary
Mary Ellen LaFrance told the Borough of Old Tappan council that frequent gatherings at 140 Old Tappan Road have created extensive street parking, blocked mailboxes and safety concerns; the council agreed to ask the zoning officer to review whether the property’s use complies with local zoning and past court determinations.
Mary Ellen LaFrance, a resident of 15 Christian Place, told the Borough of Old Tappan Mayor and Council that a tax‑exempt single‑family house at 140 Old Tappan Road “is being used as a house of worship” on a weekly basis and during larger events, creating persistent parking and safety problems for neighbors.
LaFrance said cars often line both sides of Christian Place on Saturdays and during events, sometimes blocking mailboxes and limiting children’s ability to ride bicycles. She said recent events in September and October included a large tent in the driveway that further reduced on‑site parking.
Mayor Gallagher and council members pressed for details and noted that the borough previously litigated a related tax‑exempt issue; the mayor said the council had challenged a prior claim of exemption and lost in court. Council members said the immediate concerns are neighborhood safety and emergency access.
A staff member advised that the matter should start with the zoning officer and recommended reviewing evidence such as event schedules, photos and online postings that might show recurring, organized worship activities. “If it’s being used as that under whatever definition the courts have decided upon, it’s not permitted because it wasn’t approved for that,” the staff member said during the meeting.
The council asked LaFrance and other neighbors to share photos and other documentation; one council member noted that some material had been provided earlier in the year. Mayor Gallagher said the borough will follow up with the zoning officer to determine whether the property’s activity meets the legal definition of a house of worship or otherwise violates local zoning rules.
The council did not take formal enforcement action at the meeting; members said they will pursue administrative review and return with findings. The public‑comment period closed after the council moved to end the hearing and vote to proceed with staff follow‑up.
