TUSTEN – A request for a Special Use Permit by the Bobov Yeshiva Educational Retreat Project in the Beaver Brook neighborhood was recently brought before the Tusten Planning Board, with concerned residents attending the Town Board meeting on February 14. 

The special use permit is intended to utilize the property at 189 Blind Pond Road as an educational facility for an estimated 150 students at the Bobov Yeshiva in Monsey.

Concerned residents who were in attendance at the meeting expressed their frustrations with the request, with one argument being that the educational facility would not be in accordance with the town’s Comprehensive Plan.

Town Supervisor Ben Johnson noted that the Town Board does not have any power over their counterpart in regards to the approval or disapproval of the special use permit in question. 

Residents noted that the Planning Board has made it difficult for members of the public to express their opinions on the project with little to no opportunities for public comment.

Johnson noted that over 22 letters and many more emails regarding the special use permit were received, and that all of the messages attempting to contact the Planning Board are being forwarded to the appropriate parties.

In an attempt to help alleviate the issue of a lack of the public’s ability to directly communicate with members of various boards in the town, the Town Board passed a resolution allowing the creation of individual emails for members of the town’s Planning and Zoning boards.

Neither the Tusten Planning Board Chairman Ken Baim or project spokesperson Rabbi Joel Rosenfeld returned the Democrat’s request for comment by presstime.

Appraisal approved

The Tusten Town Board voted in favor of passing a resolution allowing Supervisor Johnson to begin the application process for requesting a building appraisal for Town Hall, which is located at 210 Bridge Street in Narrowsburg.

Johnson confirmed that an appraisal is being completed just in case the town needs the knowledge of the estimated worth of the property in the future. He said that there are no current plans to relocate town offices. Additionally, he noted that the process will take many months before the town can learn the approximate value of the historic property.

Members of the board have previously stated that the offices within the upstairs section of Town Hall have become increasingly cramped for space, with five town official’s desks being located in just one room, as an example. 

In months past, there was an idea that was hotly debated within the community to move Town Hall to the former Wayne Bank located at 93 Main Street, which was recently acquired by the town. However, those ideas were officially put to bed with the five-year lease of the past prospect for town hall’s new location to the Big Eddy Brewing Company. 

The company is preparing to use the building to open and operate a brewery and eating establishment.