By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – Plans to move the Amazing Escape Room from its present location in a multi-story home at 77 W. Main St. to a new location in Freehold Borough have been given a green light by the Planning Board.
On Sept. 14, board members granted a use variance and preliminary and final site plan approval to the operation’s new location, a vacant commercial building at 2 Monmouth Ave.
Board members memorialized their action with a vote on Sept. 28.
Howard Klotzkin, the owner of the business, made his second appearance before the board on Sept. 14 to request approval for the move, following an appearance on Aug. 24. Attorney Vincent Halleran presented the application.
The Amazing Escape Room has been in operation at 77 W. Main St. since the summer of 2015. The property is in a B-1 zone, which permits offices of members of recognized professions, banks, funeral homes, photography studios, music, dance and art studios, and public institutions of higher education.
The initial zoning application for the Amazing Escape Room described it as a team-building business where people from companies and organizations, or a group of individuals, work together for the purpose of team building. Participants are locked in a room and attempt to solve clues in a bid to escape from the room.
The business’s operation was called into question during a subsequent investigation by borough officials that was prompted by complaints from neighbors regarding noise, large groups of people congregating in and around the property, traffic and other issues.
In November 2015, municipal officials determined the description of the business’s proposed use in its initial application was not reflective of the activity being conducted at the site and deemed the Amazing Escape Room an entertainment center.
In response, Klotzkin applied for a zoning interpretation from the Planning Board which he hoped would state that the business’s use in the B-1 zone was permitted. The board upheld the municipality’s determination that the Amazing Escape Room was not a permitted use in the B-1 zone.
A letter submitted by Halleran stated that Klotzkin would appeal the board’s decision in state Superior Court. About a month later, Klotzkin received a cease and desist notice from the borough, which directed him to stop operating the business in June.
At the Aug. 24 meeting, Halleran said Klotzkin was no longer seeking the zoning interpretation regarding West Main Street and was instead seeking approval to move his business to Monmouth Avenue.
The vacant building on Monmouth Avenue is in a B-2 zone, which permits service establishments that are permitted in a B-1 zone, as well as retail goods sellers, parking areas and hotels.
Planner James Higgins, testifying on behalf of Klotzkin on Aug. 24, said the Amazing Escape Room’s use is comparable to the use of art studios and dance studios, which are permitted in the B-2 zone on Monmouth Avenue.
Higgins said the Amazing Escape Room has educational and entertainment value because it can be used for team training.
Higgins said people who come to the Amazing Escape Room may patronize other businesses in town such as restaurants and he said that would be a benefit to the borough. He said he did not believe the Amazing Escape Room would have an adverse impact on the area surrounding the Monmouth Avenue site.
On Sept. 14, after some discussion regarding technical aspects of the site plan, board Chairman Adam Reich and members William Barricelli, Garry Jackson, Annette Jordan, Jamie Bennett, Danielle Sims and Jeffrey Friedman voted to grant the Amazing Escape Room a use variance, and preliminary and final site plan approval for the Monmouth Avenue location.
Reich, Barricelli, Jackson, Jordan, Bennett, Sims and Friedman memorialized a positive resolution for Klotzkin’s application on Sept. 28.
