Hearings To Get Underway On Largest Housing Plan In Jackson History
By Keith Hagarty
Monday could mark the first stage of public hearings on plans to build the largest housing development the town has ever seen.
In April, the township planning board tabled an initial hearing on plans to build 2,531 homes on Route 526 and 527, the largest proposed housing development project in Jackson history. The project would span from West Commodore Blvd. to West Fish Road to Jackson Mills-Freehold Road.
Instead of only spending a half hour to begin listening to initial testimony on the project, known as Jackson Mews, the board had agreed to hold off starting the hearings until a final decision on the date of the hearings is made at the board's annual organization meeting held on Monday, July 9.
Although with the night dedicated to reorganizing the board, with three potential new board members expected to be sworn in, a tentative date of Monday, July 16, is the most likely option for initial testimony on the plans.
The developer, Mitch Leigh, is seeking approval from the board to construct 1,332 townhouses, 790 condominiums and 384 garden style apartments to be designated as affordable housing. The total building time of the development is expected to be over a six- to 15-year period.
Carrie Schmidt of West Commodore Blvd. doesn't understand why more homes are needed in Jackson.
"Enough's enough already," Schmidt said about the upcoming hearings at a previous board meeting. "I don't know the specific details of what the developer is proposing, but once I heard it was the biggest (housing development) the town has ever seen, well, let's just say I don't like the sound of that at all."
Plans have drawn opposition from a number of residents in town, including the communityactivist organization known as The Concerned Citizens of Jackson. The group believes the project would negatively impact the surrounding area in regards to traffic and have an adverse environmental impact, as well as placing an even heavier burden on the school system.
In addition, West Fish Road and Indiero Road will be used as shortcuts and become overcrowded with traffic if Jackson Mews is approved, the group contends.
"West Commodore Blvd., Cedar Swamp Road and Freehold-Jackson Mills Road will be backed up at every traffic light each morning, evening and all weekend long," the group states on their Web site in opposition to the project. "This kind of growth will demand more traffic lights for this area." |
