Letter: Trinity Hall and the Township of Middletown

Dear Editor:

I have one simple question. What is the Township of Middletown's position on the proposed Trinity Hall development in Chapel Hill? When questioned on the issue in the past, the Township Committee told residents that the approval or denial of the proposed development’s application is solely the Township Planning Board’s decision.

On June 11, 2014, the Township Planning Board voted 6-3 to deny Trinity Hall's application. Shortly after the application was denied, Trinity Hall filed a law suit against Middletown Township seeking relief of the Planning Board’s decision. One would think that based on the previous statements made by the Township Committee, Middletown and the Township Attorney would vehemently defend the Township Planning Board’s decision. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case. This past Friday upon the Superior Court of New Jersey’s ruling on Trinity Hall’s lawsuit, a letter that Middletown Township Attorney, Brian Nelson, wrote to the presiding judge was made public. Based on this letter it appears Mr. Nelson contradicts the position of the Township Planning Board’s decision to deny the Trinity Hall application and it appears that he and the Township Committee side with Trinity Hall by recommending that the Court grant the school’s request to reverse the Planning Board’s decision and approve the application without remand to the Planning Board.

Is it not the responsibility of the township’s governing body to protect the interests of its residents above all else? After reading Mr. Nelson’s letter, all Middletown residents should be asking themselves who is our Township Attorney really working for and what is the Township Committee’s position on the proposed Trinity Hall development in Chapel Hill?

Sincerely,

Jeffrey P. Yachmetz
Concerned Resident of Middletown

And So It Begins: Trinity Hall lawsuit seeks immediate action

Yesterday's article in the Asbury Park Press concerning a lawsuit filed by the all girls school Trinity Hall, against the Middletown Township Planning Board's June 11th decision to deny Trinity Hall's application to build a school over on Chapel Hill came as no surprise. It was expected by everyone.

Now however, it isn't just the local residents known as the Chapel Hill Neighboorhood Group, that have to foot the bill for rightfully  fighting Trinity Hall's application, it's all the taxpayer of Middletown.

Here is a snippet of what the APP has reported:

MIDDLETOWN – A lawsuit has been filed against the township Planning Board after it denied an application to build a campus on Chapel Hills Road.

Officials of Trinity Hall girls high school asked a judge for a prompt review of the suit because the lease on the school's current building expires in August 2015.

The suit asks a judge to overturn the board's decision and approve the plans for a multi-building campus, which the planning board rejected after a six-hour hearing on June 11.

A lease extension also would require approval from state Green Acres officials because the building is located in a park, said Township Administrator Anthony Mercantante, who added there is an option to renew the lease on the township-owned Croydon Hall school building for six additional months.

Board rejects school's proposal

Trinity Hall proposed a campus to ultimately house 500 girls and 60 staff on 37 acres on Chapel Hill Road, which previously was approved for 19 homes. It is the only all-girls high school in Monmouth and Ocean counties and is conducting classes in a rented school building in the Leonardo section of the township.

School officials didn't wait for the board's August vote to finalize the June 11 decision to reject the plans, announcing their intent to sue five days after the planning board meeting and vote.

The school filed the lawsuit in Monmouth County Superior Court on July 3....

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