Hazlet Area Quality of Life Alliance

***** A community based non-partisan, non-profit corporation *****

“HAQLA”

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P.O. Box 94, Hazlet, New Jersey 07730

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                                                                                                            August 12, 2007

When is an Historic Farm not an Historic Farm?

The answer: when it is located in the Western Reach of the Bayshore (Hazlet, Union Beach, Keyport, Matawan, Aberdeen, and Keansburg).

If it were located somewhere out in Upper Freehold or Millstone or Middletown or Colts Neck, it would likely be rescued from demolition. The funding and expertise to negotiate its acquisition and restoration would be made readily available. One need only refer to Monmouth County Open Space Tax Fund and Farmland Preservation Program records to see where nearly all of those funds and skills for negotiating land acquisitions/easements are continually steered, by the powers that be; and where they are not.

Recently, it was purported by some interested sources, that Devino and Jackiewicz LLC, the owners of the Historic Van Mater Farmstead buildings, at Stone Road Meadows in Hazlet, are poised to demolish these early 19th century (1836) Greek revival style structures in the immediate future. If so, the destruction may begin in as little as two weeks. This is the last historic farm along the Raritan Bay. Those of us who have been struggling for more than two years to obtain help in preserving this important site are saddened by this news.

In vain, we have earnestly sought assistance from many Agencies and Organizations such as the Monmouth County Freeholders, Planning Board, Park System, Historical Association, as well as the Hazlet Township Committee. Collectively they have failed to generate any effective preservation measures whatsoever, despite the missions, goals, and principles set forth in the State of New Jersey Development and Redevelopment Plan, and Office of Smart Growth guidelines, which promote the preservation of Historical, Natural, and Agricultural resources in New Jersey, including Monmouth County.

If allowed to proceed, the demolition will be followed by the over-development of the Van Mater Farmstead property, resulting in a high density housing project, squeezed onto a 4.59 acre parcel, in an area which is virtually built-out, already overburdened with traffic congestion at Poole Avenue and Highway 36, and already suffering from a history of flooding. This aggressive urbanization will greatly harm the quality of life in the nearby neighborhoods and the last Bayshore Historic Farmstead will be no more!

John M. Curran III

President, Hazlet Area Quality of Life Alliance

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