The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection approved the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act permit application for the site of the now-closed LBI Grade School in Ship Bottom earlier this month.

A CAFRA permit was required before borough-based architect and developer Michael Pagnotta, who agreed to purchase the shuttered school in September 2021, could move forward with the construction of 21 single-family homes and associated accessory structures including driveways and nearly 1.4 acres of…