The New Jersey Senate has approved legislation that would allow the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence (SCHI) to expand its campus in Lakewood by lifting and transferring an existing conservation easement to a nearby property.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Bob Singer, permits the conservation restriction currently tied to the school’s property to be relocated to another parcel that is approximately twice the size of the original land. Supporters say the transfer would preserve environmental protections while freeing space for the school to grow.
“For decades, the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence has helped hundreds of children and young adults living with special needs and must expand to accommodate a growing student population,” Singer said in a statement. “Given the school’s unique location, bureaucratic obstacles have prevented it from expanding to better serve its students. This bill strikes the right balance between environmental stewardship and compassion by allowing the school to meet their growing needs.”
The school serves students with special needs and has seen enrollment growth in recent years. Because the existing property is subject to a conservation easement, development has been limited, prompting school officials to seek a legislative solution.
Under the measure, the conservation protections would not be eliminated but instead transferred to a larger nearby parcel, ensuring continued preservation of open space while enabling construction at the school’s current site.
We’re getting over run in Lakewood. Let them stay in Israel.