Four
Ponds (Avaya) Redevelopment Proposal. The Middletown
Planning Board will begin hearing the application for the
Four PondsRedevelopment, that is proposed for the current
Avaya office building site on Middletown-Lincroft Road, on
May 4th. The plan proposes to build 342 units (270 townhouses
and 72 apartments with 68 of the apartments being COAH affordable
housing rental apartments.) This represents an approximate
16% increase in the number of households in Lincroft Village.
Read the LVGA Position statement here.
Read more here.
Middletown's planned Multi-use Athletic
Facility at Front Street fields put on hold.
After numerous objections by both local residents and the
Chargers Pop Warner Football Club, the township has decided
to indefinitely postpone their plans to build a synthetic
turf field at the soccer fields at the corner of Everett Road
and Front St. in Lincroft. Mayor Scharfenberger sited economic
reasons and cuts in state aid in announcing the decision at
the Neighborhood Meeting on March 23, 2010. The Croydon Hall
field improvements are also on hold. The township had
planned to build an artificial turf surfaced multi-use athletic
facility, complete with lights, loud speaker system, bleachers
and snack bar at the Front Street fields at the corner of
Front St & Everett Road. Read three Asbury Park Press
articles: printed on 3/24/10,
2/17/10
and 2/3/10.
Read a Two River Times article here
and articles by the Independent, printed on 3/30/10,
3/11/10,
2/25/10.
The LVGA position statement can be found here.
Middletown Affordable Housing proposal:
On July 20, 2009 the Township Committee passed an Ordinance
#2009-2979 (Section 3, read here)
that changes the Master Plan to rezone the Avaya property
for multi-family dwellings, paving the way for a large development
of townhouses (most likely) with 20% of them being Affordable
Housing. The Planning Board had held a Special Meeting on
Wednesday, July 15th, at which they adopted a July 2009 Reexamination
Report and Amended Master Plan Land Use Element. The Amended
Master Plan is not yet posted on the Township's website but
should be soon. (link)
The Planning Board also passed a Resolution, recommending
the adoption of Ordinance #2009-2979. In April of this year
the state approved Middletown's Affordable Housing proposal
which was passed by the Township Committe on Dec. 11, 2008.
That proposal can be read here
and included 375 units to be built at the 68 acre Avaya location
on Middletown-Lincroft Rd with 75 designated as 'affordable'
rentals. That proposal was passed by the Township Committee
on Dec. 11th and, although two public hearings were originally
scheduled, the second public hearing (Dec. 18th) was canceled.
The LVGA felt that it was unacceptable for the Township Committee
to schedule two public hearings, pass the proposal at the
first hearing and cancel the second. (Read
LVGA letter.) We received a response form Township Administrator,
Tony Mercantante, informing us that further hearings will
be necessary to review and amend the proposal. Those hearings
have not happened. We encourage you to write to our various
public officials to voice your displeasure regarding the COAH
mandate. Feel free to add additional comments of your own.
Letters should be faxed to the numbers shown at the end of
the sample as well as being mailed or faxed to the Governor.
Sample letter>.
Read two articles from the Independent here
and here
and an article by the Asbury Park Press from 7/21/09.
LVGA first to Adopt-a-site in Monmouth
County. Navy Rd island beautified. more>
Residents Oppose Cell Tower at GSP Exit 109: Omnipoint
(T-Mobile) has been given permission to build a cell phone
tower near the southbound exit ramp on the north side of CR520
at Parkway exit 109. The hearing for the tower was held 2
years ago. Although the Middletown Township Committee was
informed of the hearing at that time, local residents were
unaware. Subsequently, Asw. Handlin, Senator Kyrillos and
Township Administrator Mercantante have written letters to
the Turnpike Authority (owns the Parkway), requesting that
another hearing be held locally. An article in the Asbury
Park Press from June 21, 2009, indicates that the Turnpike
Authority will be re-evaluating the tower proposal. Read the
Asbury Park Press article here.
Read an article, published on June 17, 2009 in the Independent
here.
Click the links below to read the letters as well as see the
plans for the tower.
Fire Department Cell Phone Tower:
Final vote taken: After hearing comments
by the public and a final argument by the lawyer representing
Omnipoint Communications (T-Mobile), on May 11, 2009, the
Middletown Zoning Board overwhelming voted to deny the application
for variances needed to construct a cell phone tower on
the property of the Lincroft Fire Department. Thank you
to the Zoning Board for upholding our zoning laws and thank
you also to the many members of the public who spoke against
the construction of the tower. What's next? The applicant
may or may not appeal the decision. The same applicant recently
received approval to build a similar tower at the southbound
exit of the Parkway at exit 109. Whether or not the new
tower will give T-Mobile the coverage it seeks in the center
of Lincroft is yet to be seen. (The Parkway tower was approved
by the Parkway without a public hearing.) Read the Independent
article, published on 5/21/09 here.
History: The Lincroft Fire Department
signed a contract for a 100 ft cell phone tower (flagpole
design) on the parking lot of its property at the corner
of CR520 and Rose St. LVGA Directors attended the Fire Department's
informational meeting on Aug. 19th and the public hearings
to the Zoning Board on Dec. 8, 2008, February 23rd, April
21st and May 11th, 2009. On reviewing the proposal, the
LVGA Board of Directors voted to oppose the construction
of the tower. Our reasons include:
1) T-Mobile (the cell phone company) admits that it
has coverage in the target area (near the Fire Dept.)
but it wants better coverage in buildings. The provider
could provide signal amplifiers in buildings such as the
Acme without building a tower. They could also erect small
antennae on telephone poles along Newman Spring Road that
would boost their coverage in the center of Lincroft.
2) The tower, taller than all trees and at a height of
approximately 5 times the Fire Department's garage, would
be unsightly in a Village and near residential homes,
potentially adversely affecting property values. (View
here
for an approximate artist's rendition, which may or may
not reflect the actual appearance of the proposed tower,
if erected. Please note that the rendering is showing
a tower with external antennas but the proposed tower
would have internal antennas.)
3) Many scientists are questioning the health-related
safety (particulary in regards to children) of the RF
radiation emitted from cell phone towers. (bioinitiative
website) This was especially noted in a recent Congressional
hearing (see pages 2 & 3 from a letter
from Congressman Kucinich).
Although we understand the Fire Department's need for
funding (see a Letter
to the Editor of the Village News, as well as an email
from the VP of the Fire Department), we feel that this cell
phone tower cannot be allowed. The LVGA has offered and
continues to offer our support in fund-raising activities
for the Fire Department.
The tower applicant demonstrated the appearance of the
tower by erecting a balloon at the site on the morning on
April 18th and he Zoning Board hearing continued on April
21st. After the applicant concluded their presentation members
of the public were permitted to speak. The LVGA presented
a letter of objection to the tower in the public comment
segment of the hearing (read here)
and also sent a letter
regarding cell phone placement to the Middletown Township
Committee. The public comment portion of the hearing concluded
at the May 11th Zoning Board meeting, afterwhich the Zoning
Board voted to deny the requested variances needed to construct
the tower.
The application had required an approval of 2 zoning variances:
1) Use Variance - The fire house is zoned Residential/Office
(R-O). This type of zoning does not permit the building
of that type of structure.
2) Height Variance - The maximum height requirement for
any structures on property zoned R-O is only 30' (proposed
height is 100 ft.).
(The applicant, Omnipoint, recently changed the location
of the proposed tower to the current location of a shed
to the rear of the Fire House. The shed, which will be
demolished, is more than 35' from the closest residence
and this variance, therefore, is no longer needed.)
County Multi-purpose Path Construction Stalled at
Wetlands: The county's installation of a multi-purpose
path along the south side of Newman Springs Road along Thompson
Park is complete except at two wetland areas. In the fall
of 2008 we were informed that, although a permanent bridge
plan has not yet been approved, the county has been given
permission to erect a temporary pre-fabricated bridge at the
pond that is located along the path, opposite CBA. This should
be taking place early in 2009. more>
Pedestrian Safety:
The LVGA has made numerous proposals to address pedestrian
safety in the center of Lincroft. Please go to Pedestrian
Safety and Pedestrian Recommendations
to view our concerns and recommendations, which are supported
by Asw. Handlin. (View Asw. Handlin's letter to the Middletown
Township Committee here.)
View the LVGA-proposed center island here.
These concerns have been presented to County Engineer Joseph
Ettore during CR520 Task Force meetings. The Task Force is
currently preparing recommendations.
Majestic Avenue Controversy:
In the summer of 2008 a flyer was circulated that incorrectly
states that the LVGA requested that Majestic Ave. and Majestic
Ave. South be connected at the cul-de-sac. The LVGA did not
make that proposal, nor has it supported that proposal. Please
read our letter
regarding this.
Assemblywoman Handlin
introduces bill to ban 96-inch wide trucks from local roads:
Please write Amy Handlin in support of Bill 4197
to ban 96-in. wide trucks from local roads (except for local
deliveries). Her email address is
AswHandlin@njleg.org and her mailing address is 890 Main
St, Belford, NJ 07718. She is also collecting signatures on
a petition in support of her bill. The petition can
be downloaded here
and mailed to her.
Regional traffic-reducing
proposals: The LVGA met with Asw. Handlin & representatives
of the NJ Dept. of Transportation on 1/17/07 and with representatives
from Monmouth County (Freeholder Clifton and Co. Engineer
Ettore), our state representatives (Asw. Handlin, Asm. Thompson
and Sen. Kyrillos) & the NJ Turnpike Authority on 9/27/07
to discuss improvements we have suggested to both the GSP
and Route 18. Our updated list of proposals (view here)
was presented along with a slideshow, illustrating the reasoning
behind the proposals. Originally we had presented our
proposals at various township committee meetings in Middletown,
Tinton Falls, Eatontown, Shrewsbury, Little Silver, Red Bank
and Colts Neck, as well as the Freeholders of Monmouth County,
urging each to write resolutions asking the state to make
improvements to the GSP Exit 105/Rt18 interchange, build a
new Rt18 exit at a Laird Rd extension in Colts Neck and to
allow truck access to the Parkway to Exit 117. Consequently
the Two River Council of Mayors invited the LVGA to present
our proposals at their March '07 meeting. (Our original
letter to Middletown, dated Nov., 20, 2006 can be viewed here.)
The LVGA feels that these improvements will reduce the amount
of traffic on local and county roads by improving access to
both the GSP and Rt. 18 while allowing trucks to use highways
that are more suitable to truck traffic. Please note that
we do NOT advocate allowing trucks to use the GSP north of
exit 117. Currently trucks are prohibited on the GSP north
of exit 105. The following are related articles with links:
(Additional information on previous recommendations by both
the LVGA and the County can be found in Current Projects under
CR 520 and GSP
& Rt 18 Access.)
—State DOT changes to regulations regarding truck
routes:
—Asbury Press Press articles
—The Independent article: November
29, 2006 "Residents propose ideas to ease Rt.
520 traffic"
Trash Truck Routes and
Marpal Contract with Middletown Township: The LVGA
would like to thank the Middletown Township Committee for
its efforts to improve the quality of life of residents living
along CR50 (Swimming River Road and Middletown-Lincroft Road).
We are happy to report that the Committee acted on the LVGA's
request to 1) require designated trash truck routes throughout
Middletown that would minimize use of CR50 (Middletown-Lincroft
Road/Swimming River Road) and require trash trucks to use
state highways to enter and exit the Township and 2) prohibit
trash trucks from entering the Township before 6 AM. Our request
was made in a letter
dated Nov. 20, 2006. The Middletown Township Committee
also reviewed several bids for refuse and recycling contracts
and decided to not renew its contract with Marpal for the
year 2008. (Additional information regarding the Marpal expansion
request can be found here.)
Doubly-fatal Accident:
On November 1, 2006, a tragically fatal accident occurred
on Newman Springs Road that took the lives of two people.
The LVGA wrote a letter expressing our sympathies to the families
of the victims and demanding that the township, county and
state make needed improvements to CR520 to improve its safety.
In addition we have called for Route 18 and GSP improvements
to reduce the volume of traffic on CR520. Read our letter
here. Published news
articles and letters to the editor are available in the 'In
the News'/News articles section
of this website. (Additional information on previous recommendations
by both the LVGA and the County regarding CR520 can be found
in Current Projects.) Please note
that a new CR520 Task Force was formed in 2007 to address
safety and congestion along CR520. more>
Brookdale Roundabout Opens:
The long-awaited Brookdale roundabout officially opened on
August 30, 2007 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Although many
people were skeptical about the roundabout at first, the roundabout
is now well accepted and is considered a definite improvement
over the old light-controlled intersection. Read a New York
Times article here,
an Asbury Park Press article here
and an Independent article here.
The history of the roundabout is found here.
Crosswalks: Residential
neighborhoods exist on both sides of Swimming River Road yet
there are no designated crosswalks along the approximately
one mile long road. The LVGA has asked the county to
establish three crosswalks along the road. The request
was subsequently passed on to Middletown Township which has
rejected the proposal. Please read more>
Swimming River Road Speed
Limit: In response to a both residents' and Middletown
Township Committee requests for a reduction in speed limit
on Swimming River Road, Monmouth County has lowered the speed
limit on Swimming River Road to 35 MPH from the previous 40
MPH limit. In addition Tinton Falls also requested and was
granted a reduction of speed limit to 35 MPH along the section
of Swimming River Road that is in Tinton Falls. The speed
reduction is part of an ongoing county study on the safety
of Swimming River Road and we urge drivers to continue to
obey the posted 35 MPH limit. more>
Sidewalk to Post Office:
The twp. was unsuccessful in convincing all of the residents
along Newman Springs Road to allow the twp. to build a sidewalk
between the library and the P.O. using grant money. Please
write to Mayor Scharfenberger at 1 Kings Hwy, Middletown,
NJ 07748 and urge the Twp. Committee to reapply for the grant
and continue to work with the residents to build this urgently
needed sidewalk. more>
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