Hearing to Allow School to Operate in Brick Church Resumes Monday Night

Fellowship Chapel, the site of a proposed school, at 170 Duchess Lane, Brick, N.J. (Photo: Shorebeat)

A controversial application before the Brick Township’s zoning board that would allow a group to operate a school inside a church surrounded by residential homes is expected to enter its final stretch Monday night. A slew of hearings have been held on the application of the Fellowship Chapel on Duchess Lane over the past year, and Monday’s hearing may be the first time members of the public will be able to have their say. Some residents have hired an attorney to represent their objections.

The application requests permission for Fellow Chapel, a non-denominational Christian church, to lease its premises for a school use. The “school,” in this case, would be leased by Liberty School Association, a group that provides a congregate setting for home-school children to learn together. Testimony, however, has been unclear as to whether Liberty is a private school, a religious-based school, or a home-school cooperative – all of which come with varying legal definitions and requirements. Neighbors have retained attorney Edward Liston to present their objections to the application, which consist of concerns over traffic and parking, as well as the fact that the school use could eventually carry over to another property owner if the church were to be sold.

Neighbors gather to hear the application of a school to be operated at Fellowship Chapel, on Duchess Lane in Brick Township, Oct. 1, 2024. (Photo: Shorebeat)

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Fellowship Chapel, the site of a proposed school, at 170 Duchess Lane, Brick, N.J. (Photo: Shorebeat)

Fellowship Chapel is completely surrounded by a residential neighborhood on Duchess Lane, heightening the long-term concerns of nearby residents. The case has been carried numerous times due to prolonged testimony.

The hearing will resume Monday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Civic Plaza, 270 Chambers Bridge Road. The Civic Plaza site was selected to host the meeting since its capacity is larger than the municipal courtroom where most hearings and held. A large number of residents are expected to attend the meeting.