Asbury Park Zoning Board Approves College Achieve
Piscal: Charter School's First Baptist Church Location Will Open Jan 8
The City’s Zoning Board of Adjustment has granted College Achieve of Greater Asbury Park the right 
to open a second location inside First Baptist Church, located at Third and Grand avenues this week.
“I am very happy with the outcome,” CEO and Founder Michael Piscal said.
The K through 9 public charter school opened this fall inside the former St. George Greek Orthodox Church, located at 700 Grand Ave. The second location is due to open on Jan 8, Piscal said.
Its 508 Third Avenue location will feature two floors of classroom, a kitchen, cafeteria, library, restrooms, offices, and a ground floor assembly area. Because there are no in or outdoor recreational areas, the school will utilize a nearby park and the boardwalk, project officials said.
College Achieve sought a use and a parking variance, as well as design waivers to educate over 400 students at the second location. Project attorney Andrew Karas, who cited case law, maintained the use was an inherently beneficial one, meaning it served the public good.
During the six month long case, testimony from project professionals were challenged by lawyers [shown below] representing the nearby Hope Academy Charter School, Neptune School District and the adjacent property owner Sharon Krengel, who produced their own professionals.
The often standing room only crowd also asked questions of the professionals and placed their comments on the record, regarding everything from parking and traffic concerns to fire safety and affect on the residential neighborhood.
The Police Department’s Traffic Safety Officers testified Tuesday that they saw no negative impacts to the existing area and outlined their recommended bus and parent drop off plan.
In the end, the Zoning Board limited the number of students to 104 students in year one, and 210 thereafter. They also limited the number of faculty to 12 in year one and 16 thereafter.
Other conditions include:
School and church activities never coincide
Meet all state, local, fire and police requirements
Cones and signage be placed around the school to identify bus and parent pickup and dropoff
Two additional pedestrian crossing signs
Signage identifying the school operation
No play or recess outside the property
The use of crossing guards during walks to park or boardwalk
A dedicated parking zone during the time of deliveries
Safety regulated restriping of the crosswalk [to be approved by the City Council]
Retain jurisdiction over the application, requiring the school to periodically return for review
No evening and weekend school activities
Bike racks on the property
A board on board fence will be placed between the school and the neighboring property with landscape on Krengel’s property.
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