Preliminary plans for Chabad Jewish Center unveiled

Jupiter, FL — Abacoa residents got a first glimpse of the Chabad Jewish Center of Jupiter on Monday night, and there were more questions than answers.

The 25,000-square-foot center will be located on a 1 1/2-acre parcel at the corner of Marlberry Circle and University Drive, directly behind the new SunTrust Bank and Regions Bank under construction.

It will contain a sanctuary area, as well as classrooms, a kitchen, social hall, library and offices, and a small, third-floor study area for Jewish FAU students.

“This property was designated for civic use,” said Donaldson Hearing of Cotleur Hearing, the land planner for the owner, Rabbi Berel Barash, who attended the meeting. “It is an appropriate use for the property, one of two locations for houses of worship in the heart of Abacoa.”

But residents of New Haven, immediately east of the property, were concerned about traffic and the number of parking spaces available for the two-story building.

“It’s too many cars for such a small street,” said Steve Fischer, who lives nearby. “I’m afraid for the safety of kids and the congestion. How do you get 200 people into the synagogue with 80 parking spaces? This sounds like a done deal … it is a freight train out of control.”

Hearing said the original number of those using the center for worship had been reduced from 375 to about 290, based on the availability of 80 parking spaces, not the 98 originally designed.

“We limit the number by the number of fixed seats in the worship area,” Hearing said.

“And if there are more people who come for the high holy days, Rabbi Barash will make arrangements for a shuttle to bring them to worship. We have a verbal agreement with Regions Bank to use their parking spaces for overflow as well. Keep in mind that the Chabad will have only about 300 families; it won’t be a large number.”

The planned preschool also raised concerns among the residents, but Hearing said it could be a boon to those working in the nearby shops, restaurants and banks.

“Access will be from University Drive, but also through Regions Bank area off Military Trail,” he said. “The rabbi has the right to put an entrance along Marlberry Circle, but won’t, out of respect for the neighborhood.”

Residents asked that the land planner and the rabbi reconsider the Mediterranean style of the center’s exterior, making it more compatible with the Victorian and Key West exteriors of the homes in New Haven. They asked that Hearing come back with the landscaping and exterior lighting plan for the building.

“I think this is a perfect place for this center,” said Barash after the meeting. “Tonight’s meeting was a matter of communication so people know what the plans are.”