Board of Adjustment Ruling Upheld

The Board of Adjustment's ruling was upheld, nearly a year after Seton Hall officials began appeal the Board's  into offices for the university's military science program.

The Board's rejection of the application—which generated considerable opposition from local residents, mobilized largely by the Tuxedo Park neighborhood association—came in February, 2010 and Seton Hall had 45 days to appeal the decision after public notification was given in the News-Record, according to (then) university spokeswoman Jill Matthews. The appeal was filed in Essex County Superior Court.

"We believe that the Board didn't meet the standard in reviewing and denying our use variance," she said at the time.

In the complaint filed by attorneys from Connell Foley, the university contends that the placement of military science offices in the house would have "minimal impact" on the surrounding area, since the offices would only be open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and access would only be given through the rear of the lot facing Seton Hall so as not to increase traffic on South Centre Street.

Seton Hall purchased the house—a former doctor's home and practice which abuts the campus—in December 2007 and is seeking to use it for office space and an admissions center for its ROTC program, which has about 90 students. Community opposition to the variance touched on concerns that weapons would be housed in the building—which Seton Hall says is not the case—and the presence of a building used for administrative purposes in the heart of a residential neighborhood.

"I think the Zoning Board is just sensitive to an expansion beyond our current footprint," said Seton Hall spokesman Tom White.

According to Matthews, the university planned to work with the community to get additional feedback on appropriate renovations to the property. An adjustment has already been made to the planned placement of the seven-foot fence that encompasses the Seton Hall campus to make it less obtrusive.

Tuxedo Park resident Ian Miller said last year that community members' continuing objection to the university's desired use of the house for the military science program stems from the idea of non-residential use of the property. He says Tuxedo Park is neighborly and close-knit and concerns that their property values will drop.

"It's not your campus, it's your neighbors," said Miller, who added that he had no objection to Monsignor Robert Sheeran, the university's previous president, having a residence in the neighborhood and with residential uses in general. "We want to respect you and what your university does; you should respect us and our feelings."