Road use remains hot topic on Hovbilt plan
Cassville residents ask how Jackson Valley will change neighborhood
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

JACKSON - Testimony on the 965-unit Jackson Valley age-restricted residential project being proposed by Hovbilt in the Cassville section of Jackson is beginning to wind down.

The applicant's presentation continued at the Planning Board's Jan. 8 meeting.

The application will continue on Jan. 22 at 9:30 p.m. when members of the public will be allowed to ask questions and make comments on the plan. Members of the public will have one opportunity to speak and comments repeated more than once will not be accepted.

Jackson Valley is proposed for a Planned Retirement Community (PRC) zone in an area bordered by Perrineville Road, Cassville Road (Route 571), West Veterans Highway, Prospertown Road and Interstate 195.

At the Jan. 8 meeting, Arthur P. Havighorst II, vice president and general counsel of the V.S. Hovnanian Group, responded to questions that had been raised by the public in December.

Much of the discussion on the application has involved the impact of the Jackson Valley project on roads in the Cassville neighborhood, and on how those roads may be improved as part of the project.

One troublesome spot is the unusual "V" intersection where Route 571 and Perrineville Road meet other streets.

Havighorst said Hovbilt has been asked to come up with a solution to that location rather than just writing a check to cover any work that may be done.

"The only viable solution was to terminate Perrineville Road at the intersection and have southbound traffic join Route 571 by a (new) connector road," he said. "Whether the connector road is built is up to the Township Council and Ocean County. The applicant has presented it to this board so the board is aware of the solution that Hovbilt provides for the intersection, nothing more."

Havighorst said Hovbilt would pay its fair share of any improvements made to Perrineville Road heading north.

"To meet all of the off-site requirements for the township, the applicant will design and construct at its expense the improvements we have discussed here; Perrineville Road to the north of our property line; for the road south on Perrineville to any ap-proved connector road; the connector road itself and improvements to terminate Perrineville Road before the Route 571 intersection," Havighorst said. "Final engineering permits will be approved by the Township Council, its professional staff and the county as necessary for any and all off-site work."

Traffic engineer John H. Rea was recalled to respond to residents' questions.

Peter Quinto asked how traffic will be handled at the intersection of Cassville Road and Reed Road and at the intersection of Perrineville Road and Reed Road, near his home, considering all of the increased traffic that Jackson Valley will bring to the area.

Rea said those intersections are under county jurisdiction and county engineers are aware of the deficiencies.

"The intersection is programmed for a future improvement," Rea said. "The county may require a contribution from this applicant to pay for its fair share ... and we will comply."

Janet Gearman asked if traffic studies were conducted on a Saturday and was told they were. She also questioned the safety near her Perrineville Road home.

Rea said the standard of the road will be improved to a higher level than at present and will be ale to handle more traffic in a safer manner.

Resident Felicia Layne asked how many accidents have occurred at the intersection of Perrineville and Cassville roads, Cassville and Freehold roads, and Cassville and Thompson Bridge roads.

Rea said he did not know the number of accidents at those intersections, but he did pull police reports for the five-way intersection (Perrineville Road and Route 571) and said there is a problem at that location.

Bill Allert asked if any land will be taken by eminent domain in conjunction with the Perrineville Road widening.

Rea said Perrineville Road is a township road and the intent is to limit any incursion onto private property, but he said a safe road surface has to be provided.

"Nothing has been decided in that area yet," said Rea. "But we and the township [would like to limit any incursion]."

Board Chairman Kenneth Bressi said the widening that will be done in the area of Allert's property is expected to be done on Hovbilt's side of the road.

Other residents had questions on issues including property lines; distance to the planned connector road from their home; the history of the application; whether there be other roads if there is a traffic problem that cannot be resolved; and traffic signals.

Attorney Donald Daines, representing Hovbilt, called Christine Cofone, a planner with Schoor DePalma, to testify. She said the project is consistent with the PRC zone standards. The applicant is not seeking any variances from those standards.

Regarding open space in the project, Cofone said open space will be provided in each section of the development.

All of the homes in Jackson Valley will be sold at market rates. Havighorst said Hovbilt will pay to transfer 97 units of Jackson's affordable housing obligation to another municipality as part of a Regional Contribution Agreement.