Browns Point Marina Redevelopment Planning
Keyport Neighbors
Re: Rehabilitation Resolution - Special Meeting 1/16/07
A Special Meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday 1/16/06, at 7:00 PM at Borough Hall regarding the designation of the entire Borough of Keyport as "an area in need of Rehabilitation".
Re: Browns Point Marina Redevelopment Planning
The following insight was gained from public records regarding Brown's Point Marina redevelopment planning to date:
- Owner Clay Pearlman appeared before the KBC on 3/7/06 to informally propose his plan for condominiums, upgrades to the 70-slip marina, and a public walkway along the waterfront. The applicant reported that work had already begun with the DEP regarding condominiums. No information was provided by the applicant to the KBC on building height and unit density. During this meeting Councilman Robert Bergen indicated that the Borough was examining this site to see if it is an area in need of redevelopment. This matter was referred at that time Council President Robert Bergen and the KBC Redevelopment Committee.
- On 4/25/06 the Keyport Borough Planner provided a report to Council President Robert Bergen regarding "the applicants proposal to construct a 92-unit mid-rise apartment building consisting of four floors of residential space above a ground floor parking level and a 6000 sq. ft. to 7000 sq. ft. marina including boat slips." The proposed density is 32.9 units/buildable-area. Because of Master Plan and zoning regulation impedances, the planner reported that consideration should be given to generating a Master Plan amendment or designating an area in need of rehabilitation and preparing a redevelopment plan for the area.
- On 9/11/06 the Keyport Borough Engineer reported to the Keyport Chief Financial Officer that several meetings had taken place with Mr. Pearlman and his professional team regarding concept development plans and a traffic impact study.
- On 12/22/06 the NJ DEP requested additional information regarding this project for evaluation of acquisition in whole or in part of this waterfront area.
To review any of these documents give me a call at 732 264 5438.
Re: Manchester Condos
During the public comment portion of the 11/21 KBC meeting, the old factory at 75 Manchester became a topic for discussion. Then Councilman Bergen indicated that:
- He and the Borough Engineer have reviewed redevelopment concepts prepared by the present factory owners. These plans have also been shared with some Maple Place residents adjacent to this Light Industry site and received favorable comments.
- The Borough engineer (Don Norbut of T&M Assoc.) has been funded to evaluate this factory site against the criteria used to designate "an area in need of Rehabilitation". Councilman Bergen was hopeful that the results of the Borough engineers' study would be available for review at the 12/5/06 KBC meeting.
- Using the redevelopment process for this site, the KBC would be able to define design standards for multifamily residential units to replace the old factory. These development concepts and design standards for this site would then be sent to the Keyport Unified Planning Board KUPB) for their approval. Councilman Bergen suggested that this redevelopment procedure could be superior to the present KUPB use-variance process, which has no design standards for multifamily developments.
Information concerning the above two projects is provided as background material to help evaluate the up- coming presentations and discussions at the 1/16/07 Special KBC meeting regarding using Rehabilitation-Redevelopment powers to reshape Keyport. Is this Rehabilitation-Redevelopment program just a fast track for approving high-density mid-rise projects or a true planning process reflecting the inputs of Keyport residents before the project is defined?
All comments and corrections are appreciated.
Regards
Michael Lane
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