Central Jersey College Prep Wins Approval For Gym In New Home

Architect David McCrorry talks about Central Jersey College Prep’s proposed gym at the April 6 Zoning Board meeting.

All systems are “go” for the Central Jersey College Prep Charter School to move into its new digs, now that it has approval for its gymnasium.

The township Zoning Board of Adjustment on April 6 unanimously approved the charter school’s application to convert 11,500 square feet of warehouse space in 101 Mettlers Road into a gym.

This was the school’s second attempt at getting a gym approved. The school appeared before the board in December 2016 and January with an application that had the gym as an annex next to the building.

But board members’ concerns about the new gym’s proximity to a gas pipeline – well within the 100-foot buffer called for by the township’s zoning ordinance – forced school officials to axe the gym from its plans, saying they’d come back for that approval later.

The gym will have seating for 320 people, and will be able to be used for basketball and other sports, architect David McCrorry told the board.

The building’s owner will have to raise the roof to accommodate the gym, McCrorry said, but the roof height will still be within township regulations.

Board chairman Robert Thomas asked that since CJCP “is a public school supported by public funds, is there any possibility that it could potentially be made available to recreation or different groups as the regular schools often do?”

Peter Lanfrit, the school’s attorney, said that he is “sure that if the township contacts the charter school, the charter school will be more than willing to work with the township.”

After he voted, Thomas said, “I think this is a better plan. It’s better for the township and it’s better for the school.”

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