Grawtown subdivisions to be linked under plan
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON - A divided Planning Board has voted 5-3 to approve a General Development Plan (GDP) for RG-2 Associates that will link six housing developments in the Grawtown Road area.

Voting in favor of the GDP application were board members Eileen Tobasco, Daniel Burke, Len Haring, William Cook and Joseph Riccardi.

Voting against the GDP application were board members Blanche Krubner, Vice Chairman Todd Porter and Chairman Kenneth Bressi.

The meeting was held Aug. 20.

Four of the six housing subdivisions within the area covered by the GDP were approved on March 6, 2006, March 20, 2006, April 3, 2006 and May 1, 2006. Eventually, all six subdivisions are expected to be tied together after the remaining two subdivisions receive approval.

A GDP protects the applicant from zoning changes which may occur over a long period of time. The applicant may now seek approval for the final two subdivisions.

The remaining plans now call for 193 units with a 10-year buildout on Grawtown Road near East Veterans Highway, across the street from the proposed Grawtown Estates development. The applicant is being represented by attorney Ray Shea.

Reviewing the application, Shea said there are six separate tracts on the same side of Grawtown Road. The applicant was asked to integrate the six tracts into a uniform subdivision and did so, Shea said.

Environmental scientist Ian Borden, president of Property Development Services, Toms River, representing the applicant, described phase one as having four areas, 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, in the northern portion. Phase two will have six areas in the southern portion of the project.

"We did this phasing to break the units in a numerically similar fashion, but yet being considerate of roads and utility improvements that would need to be constructed to comply with ordinances and utility concerns," Borden said.

Planning Board planner Alan B. Dittenhofer said the phasing plan was a major concern. He was not certain if the phases could stand alone since there are some pump stations involved.

Dittenhofer said he was concerned with the sewer service and the pump stations and how they tie into the different sections.

Borden pointed to a map and located the various pump stations and indicated when they would be constructed according to the phasing plan.

Gene Fowler, who chairs Jackson's environmental commission, said he was concerned with reports regarding endangered wildlife species.

"Mr. Borden did supply us with reports, which we reviewed," Fowler said. "We will provide a letter of that review to [the board], but at this time we do not have any concerns other than a northern pine snake."

Burke asked if the developer could be limited to building a certain number of homes per year so as not to overburden the township's resources, such as schools, public works and the police department.

Shea said that is a discussion to be held when the applicant seeks preliminary approval for the subdivisions.

Burke said it seemed appropriate to discuss that issue while the GDP was on the table.

Shea responded with an offer of no more than 20 percent of the 193 homes per year.

At that point a motion was made to deny the GDP application.

Objecting to the number of homes being built and the size of the buffer which would protect the tributaries of the Toms River, Krubner voted to deny the GDP application.

Porter said he did not have enough information and could not decide in favor of the GDP, so he also voted to deny the GDP application.

Bressi also voted to deny the GDP application, seeing no benefit to Jackson.

The other board members voted not to deny the GDP application. The three votes to deny the application were not enough to carry the negative motion and a revote was held with the same results.

The second vote to deny the GDP application was then followed by a motion to approve the GDP, which was approved in a 5-3 vote.