Jackson planning board grants one-year extension for Whitesville Road house of worship amid sewer capacity limits
June 02, 2026 | Jackson, Ocean County, New Jersey
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The Jackson Township Planning Board on June 1 approved a one-year extension for a house-of-worship project at 26 Whitesville Road after the applicant said outside agencies had delayed required sewer and regulatory approvals.
Donna Jennings, attorney for the applicant, said the approval being extended dated to Sept. 8, 2025, and that the applicant needs more time to obtain county and Pinelands signoffs. Ian Bordon, a licensed planner with Professional Design Services, testified the central issue is sewer capacity: "there's apparently no capacity," he said, and the applicant is negotiating with the Joint Township Municipal Utilities Authority (JTMUA) for a future sewer extension. Bordon told the board the MUA/developer agreement projects construction of a force main over roughly 5.5 miles with an estimated completion timeline of about two years.
Because sewer capacity is not currently available, the applicant said it will propose a temporary septic easement on an adjoining lot to allow interim operation. Bordon told the board the septic would be a temporary measure and that "once that capacity is available, it would connect in the sewer. The septic system would be abandoned," and the applicant has committed to hook up when MUA capacity exists.
Board members emphasized the distinction between tonight's statutory time-extension decision and any separate request to modify approvals to allow a temporary septic system; a modification would require separate public notice. The board approved the one-year extension by roll-call vote, with one abstention recorded.
What happens next: the applicant will pursue the additional agency permits and, if needed, file a separate application with notice to seek any modification to allow a temporary septic system. The applicant and planning staff discussed that any interim septic work would also need county and state permitting.
Votes at a glance: one-year extension for block 19501, lot 21 (Pile Najes AOS Inc.) — approved (roll-call; one abstention).
Donna Jennings, attorney for the applicant, said the approval being extended dated to Sept. 8, 2025, and that the applicant needs more time to obtain county and Pinelands signoffs. Ian Bordon, a licensed planner with Professional Design Services, testified the central issue is sewer capacity: "there's apparently no capacity," he said, and the applicant is negotiating with the Joint Township Municipal Utilities Authority (JTMUA) for a future sewer extension. Bordon told the board the MUA/developer agreement projects construction of a force main over roughly 5.5 miles with an estimated completion timeline of about two years.
Because sewer capacity is not currently available, the applicant said it will propose a temporary septic easement on an adjoining lot to allow interim operation. Bordon told the board the septic would be a temporary measure and that "once that capacity is available, it would connect in the sewer. The septic system would be abandoned," and the applicant has committed to hook up when MUA capacity exists.
Board members emphasized the distinction between tonight's statutory time-extension decision and any separate request to modify approvals to allow a temporary septic system; a modification would require separate public notice. The board approved the one-year extension by roll-call vote, with one abstention recorded.
What happens next: the applicant will pursue the additional agency permits and, if needed, file a separate application with notice to seek any modification to allow a temporary septic system. The applicant and planning staff discussed that any interim septic work would also need county and state permitting.
Votes at a glance: one-year extension for block 19501, lot 21 (Pile Najes AOS Inc.) — approved (roll-call; one abstention).
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