The Bristol Township Zoning Hearing Board recently approved the United American Muslim Association to operate a girls’ educational facility with dorms at an existing building.
The zoners voted to approve variances for the nonprofit association to allow the second-floor of the building to be used as dorms for no more than 15 girls.
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The 7,600-square-foot building in the 4800 block of Beaver Dam Road behind The Village Lodge off Route 13 has been operated as an educational facility and religious studies center by the United American Muslim Association since 2005. The nonprofit rented the building starting in 2005 and has owned it since 2007.
The first floor is a prayer and educational facility, while the second floor has living arrangements for middle school-aged girls. The nonprofit aimed to have 12 to 20 girls at the facility with four staff and several volunteers, according to Gregg Shore, the attorney for the nonprofit.
The students are enrolled through cyber charter schools and will have educators on hand to help them with their school work and provide religious classes.
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The building was previously used as an educational facility by the United American Muslim Association. It housed boys and then girls through 2021.
The township’s fire inspectors found 22 bunk beds at the facility in 2021. Township officials were concerned about the number of girls staying in the building. Additionally, inspectors located several code violations, Bristol Township Director of Building and Zoning Robert McTague said.
Shore said there were 25 to 30 girls at the facility in the past, and the United American Muslim Association was willing to accept less students in the dorms to keep them safe.
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The United American Muslim Association runs a boys’ school and dorms at the former Immaculate Conception B.V.M. Catholic Church property on Emilie Road in Bristol Township. That facility has five to six dozen students living at the site, Shore said.
The United American Muslim Association reported they have good relations with their neighbors on Beaver Dam Road and have never had any issues with police.
Shore said students live at the facility during the typical school year, but they return home one weekend per month and for holidays.
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Several students who attended the school and lived in the dorms in the past spoke highly of their experience and encouraged the zoners to approve the variances.
A pastor from a nearby church spoke and said he has no problems with the school and dorms at the site, but he had asked for assurances the facility won’t be turned into a drug rehab or a halfway house in the future.
Shore said the school will be looking to relocate to a new facility in the coming years, but they plan to use the Beaver Dam Road educational facility and dorms for now.
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Previously, the United American Muslim Association attempted to purchase and convert a yoga studio on Zimmerman Lane in Bristol Township on the border with Middletown Township to use it for the girls’ school, but the plan fell apart.
The United American Muslim Association operates similar schools in other parts of the country.
The United American Muslim Association educational facilities’ mission is to “develop well-educated and spiritually strong individuals in North America and beyond through teaching, research, learning, community service, and the advancement of knowledge in academic and religious fields,” according to their website.
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