Resident fears loss of land as adult community rises
BY TOYNETT HALL
Staff Writer

HOWELL - While Centex Homes aspires to create a whole new way of living for adults 55 and over, residents who live near the development that is under construction say their quality of life will diminish upon the completion of Renaissance at Colts Neck Crossing.

The 500-home adult community is under construction on the site of the old Flame motel on Route 33 near the intersection of Colts Neck Road.

During the April 12 Planning Board meeting when Colts Neck Crossing was on the agenda, Elaine Piper of Colts Neck Road (also designated Monmouth County Route 35) expressed concern about a piece of her property being seized by the developer. Piper said the builder wants to take about 10 feet of her property in order to create a turning lane into the adult community.

Piper, who has lived in her home for 27 years, said she does not want to sell her property to the developer. She said the loss of that land would put her "so close to the road I will not be able to open my door."

According to Piper, residents of Colts Neck Road are unaware of the situation.

"The neighbors do not know what they're doing. Everybody's in limbo. They should have reached out to us more," Piper said.

Tracey Mallet of nearby Cranberry Road shares the same sentiment. Mallet, who has lived in her home for more than 11 years, said she lives on almost 1 acre of property and the developer wants to take 8 feet on both sides of her land.

Mallet said this is a safety issue for her.

"I already have cars crashing onto my lawn. If they take this property, the cars are going to be at my front door," she said.

According to Mallet, the developer has offered compensation for the property to be acquired. However, Mallet said that with a revaluation of homes and property in Howell now complete, the "money they're offering is peanuts."

Kenneth Bordfeld of Colts Neck Road said the developer offered him $16,000 for 10 feet of his land. Bordfeld implied that the offer was inadequate. He said because of the revaluation, the "value of my land has quadrupled. If we do decide to sell, they [developers] would have to raise the price."

Although Bordfeld believes the compensation offered was less than it should have been, he said his main concern is the safety of his family. Bordfeld said because of heavy traffic in the area and the potential of vehicles coming up onto his lawn, he keeps his 13-year-old daughter away from the front lawn.

Former Planning Board member Pauline Smith sympathized with the residents who spoke up. Speaking about the developer of the adult community, she said, "These people have the right to do what they want, but not at the expense of someone else's property."

The residents who spoke at the Planning Board meeting also raised the specter of their property being acquired through the process of eminent domain (condemnation). They expressed concern at that possibility.

William Heine, the director of the Monmouth County Department of Public Information, explained that "no one is taking anything from anyone."

According to Heine, "Often when a development impacts traffic, we require the developer to make improvements. There are three parcels ... We're requiring the developers to take 5 feet and use it to make left-turn lanes.

"The developer has to approach the homeowners and make an offer for their land according to the market rate. The developer has not demonstrated to us that they have exhausted all those possibilities yet.

"They have to make a good-faith effort to acquire the property. If they cannot acquire the property, they will come to the county. In this case we would only go in if the developer cannot strike the deal. They will then have to pay us and compensate those homeowners," Heine said.

Brian Murphy, the engineer who represents Renaissance at Colts Neck Crossing, said, "As of right, now we're trying to acquire that land," however, "it is up to them [Monmouth County] as to what they want to do."