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Neighbor alleges tax‑exempt home at 140 Old Town Road is operating like a house of worship, council asks zoning officer to investigate
Summary
A resident told the Old Tappan mayor and council that a tax‑exempt single‑family house at 140 Old Town Road holds recurring gatherings and large events that block parking, mailboxes and sightlines; council directed the zoning officer to review whether the activities meet the legal test for a house of worship.
Mary Ellen Lafrance, a resident of 15 Christian Place, urged the council to act after years of what she described as growing activity at 140 Old Town Road. "It is being used as a house of worship on a weekly basis, definitely," she told the council during public comment, saying weekend events leave cars parked on both sides of the street and sometimes block mailboxes and hydrants.
Mayor Gallagher and councilmembers discussed next steps, emphasizing the borough should determine whether the property’s use meets the courts' legal definition of a house of worship before taking enforcement action. The mayor said he had met informally with the occupant and relayed that the occupant described the location as his home: "He says it's his home. He has friends over. He has gatherings. He didn't claim there were services," the mayor said.
Councilmembers asked neighbors to provide supporting evidence — calendars, photos or website postings — that would demonstrate repeated, organized events. One councilmember suggested staff obtain the zoning officer’s review of how courts define a house of worship and whether the property's current activities fall outside the borough’s zoning approvals.
Council and residents raised public‑safety concerns tied to parking density and sightlines for emergency vehicles. Neighbors estimated peak events can draw dozens of cars (one resident said "I'd say 60" at busiest times), and councilmembers noted that obstructed corners could impede fire and ambulance access. The council agreed to ask the zoning officer to review the complaint, gather evidence already provided to staff, and report back to the council with findings and recommended next steps.
