This project calls for 342 housing units to be built off Middletown-Lincroft Rd. in Lincroft and has caused a major backlash of opposition against the project by area residents. The Lincroft Village Green Association and the citizens group SONIC ( Save Our Neighborhood's Integrity & Character), have each rallied their members and plan to have large contingencies there.
Redbankgreen.com's Dustin Racioppi has a good write-up on it:
Middletown’s planning board will meet Wednesday to hear a proposal that’s got neighbors up in arms and township officials grinding their teeth.
The proposed project, submitted by Four Ponds Associates, calls for the demolition of a large office building vacated by telecom giant Avaya and the construction of 342 residential units on 68 acres on Middletown-Lincroft Road.
For locals, the prospect of adding hundreds of homes to the tract is an unwelcome one, as traffic and safety top the concerns, not to mention a serious disruption to the Lincroft section’s quality of life, they say.
For township officials, the proposal represents “archaic and ridiculous” affordable housing laws imposed by the state. But until changes are made in Trenton, they’re handcuffed, they say.
“We oppose this development and every development we’ve been forced into under the guise of affordable housing regulations,” Mayor Tony Fiore said, “especially when they’re not in the best interest of Middletown. And that’s exactly what’s going on here.”
Currently, the property is zoned for office use but is able to add residential units since the town listed the property in its affordable housing plan, which was revised in 2009, Administrator Anthony Mercantante said. No variances are being sought.
A non-profit advocacy group made up of residents, the Lincroft Village Green Association, has called for the town to rezone the property back to residential single-family or commercial use.
But “We have no authority to simply rezone” the property, Fiore said. “We would be steadfast in doing that. Unfortunately, the legislature and the state assembly has given us no relief.”
Of the 342 units proposed, 68 are said in the builder’s application to satisfy the town’s affordable housing obligation, a murky mandate delivered by the state Council On Affordable Housing – which itself is in limbo, as Governor Chris Christie has recommended eliminating COAH and letting local municipalities decide how much affordable housing is necessary within their boundaries....
2 comments:
Key word "murky" That's right.
I love to hear all the Republican TC say they had no choice and their hands were tied. Yet they blamed Patrick Short and Steve Massell even said he would never vote for the development. Adding further that this would ruin Lincroft. Yet they all seem to have amnesia now that this is going forward. Gee it's not our fault seems to be the message.
Please show some responsibility for a change, you picked this sight which was wrong in the first place. The TC sounds like a bunch of children say "no I didn't do it, they did".
I hope these groups sue the pants of them.
Dustin, Mike, did you ever think to look at who owns the property?
TorCon. Aren't they big Republican contributors? It always comes down to money and who is getting it.
Why was this site chosen when over others that are closer to businesses and would not ruin a community.
This is not about COAH, that's the excuse. The developer wants to make as much money on his investment as he can. The TC obviously doesn't care.
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