Residents complain about basketball in the street Nine hoops facing borough roads may have to go BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer ROOSEVELT - A neighbor criticized activities at the Homestead Lane yeshiva during the May 14 Borough Council meeting. Melissa Branco, who lives on Homestead Lane, told the council that two basketball hoops have been placed on the town's right of way in front of Congregation Anshei Roosevelt, which leases its building to Yeshiva Me'on Hatorah. According to Branco, between 20 and 30 youths play basketball on the street in front of the synagogue at any given time. Branco said the activity is very noisy, starting as early as 8:30 a.m. and continuing until dusk. Branco asked the council to request that large groups of people do not obstruct traffic. Borough Administrator William Schmeling said he did not know if the borough has an ordinance that prohibits congregating on borough streets. Mayor Elsbeth "Beth" Battel said the basketball hoop issue first came up a few years ago when people were playing on Lake Drive. Resident Bert Ellentuck, who also lives on Homestead Lane, said there are currently nine basketball hoops facing streets throughout the town. He asked the council how the hoops could be removed. Schmeling said the matter is generally a policy decision made by the governing body. If the council addresses one hoop in town, he said, it must address all the others. Schmeling said he could send a letter to those with basketball hoops in rights of way. The letter, he said, could state that if the hoops are not removed within seven days, the borough will issue a summons. Joshua Pruzansky, vice president of the yeshiva, said the boys in his school play basketball as do any other children in the borough. He also said he hopes that fingers are not being pointed specifically at the yeshiva boys. Branco addressed another yeshiva-related matter and alleged that the organization is using homes at 28 and 18 Homestead Lane as dormitories. Pruzansky would not comment regarding Branco's allegations. The yeshiva is leasing the Brottman residence at 53 N. Rochdale Ave. to house students, which is a matter that has been brought before the borough's Planning Board. Branco told the council that she had registered a complaint with the zoning officer regarding 28 Homestead Lane. Schmeling, who also serves as the borough's zoning officer, said he inspected the property and discussed the situation with the borough attorney. In addition, Branco told the council that she had registered a complaint in September about 18 Homestead Lane. She said the use of the property has increased from a residence to an office and a part-time dormitory. Branco told the council that she had gone before the Planning Board to discuss the situation at 18 Homestead Lane but that the Planning Board could not do anything about her complaint until the zoning officer inspects the property. Schmeling said the Planning Board has not set a hearing regarding Branco's complaint. Last month, the council passed an ordinance permitting the development of houses of worship, public and private schools, athletic facilities for public and private schools, and dormitories for private schools in the borough's R/AG-400 zone, which historically was used for farms, nurseries, greenhouses and single-family detached dwellings. According to the ordinance, any dorm would have to be located on the same property as the school facility for which the dorm is providing boarding services. Dorms must comply with state law and make provisions for affordable housing. They would also have to supply one parking space for every adult supervisor and one space for every two students ages 16 1/2 years of age and older, as well as supply one loading space for every 20,000 square feet of floor area. The Homestead Lane residences allegedly being used to house yeshiva students are not located in the borough's R/AG-400 zone.