The property at 1556 Church Road, Toms River, N.J. (Google Earth)
The owner of a property on Church Road – located roughly between the Garden State Parkway overpass and North Dover Elementary School – has proposed subdividing the parcel into 12 lots of a group of new single-family homes.
The owner, 1556 Church Road LLC, which according to state business records is owned by local developer Mordechai Finkelstein, of Lakewood, will appear before the board later this month in reference to the property at that address. According to a board filing, the owner will seek to create 12 single-family residential building lots and one drainage basin on the property. The tract is currently developed with a 1.5-dwelling and several accessory farm structures, all of which are proposed to be removed.
The property at 1556 Church Road, Toms River, N.J. (Google Earth)
According to county tax records, the property measures 11.98 acres and is located within the Rural Residential zone. It last changed hands in 2023, when it was purchased for $1,600,000.
The filing with the board indicates a request for numerous variances associated with the subdivision, including a lot depth on one of the new lots of 154.27-feet measured from Church Road, where 200-feet is required. Another one of the lots would have 154.27-feet of depth from the roadway. The developer is also seeking to have street lights mounted significantly lower than the code allows, at 12.75-feet rather than the normal 30-feet.
The property owner is being represented by attorney Robert C. Shea. The hearing is scheduled for the March 18, 2026 planning board meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. at the township municipal complex on Washington Street.
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