Post by Fed Up on Aug 17, 2006 4:44:19 GMT -5
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LOCAL NEWS: Freehold OKs plan for new uses of old police site
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 08/17/06
BY ALESHA WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER
Freehold Borough Council has signed off on plans to allow redevelopment at the former police station it plans to sell at Hudson and Bennett streets.
The council last week unanimously approved a plan the Planning Board OK'd in the spring to establish the 1.35-acre township site as a redevelopment zone.
The zone would allow uses not permitted now in its residential zone, including a dance or arts studio, post office, professional offices or adult day care, Township Administrator Joseph Bellina said.
The 12,180-square-foot building, built in 1908, was the borough high school until 1926. It served as the police building until the department moved to Jackson Street in 2002.
Bellina met with neighbors last year to hear their wishes for the property.
"The one thing people in that neighborhood would like is for the building to remain," Bellina said. "By establishing the redevelopment zone, we retain some of that control."
Marilena Lowe of Bennett Street said at the meeting that she was happy the building would remain, but she is concerned about one developer's idea of putting a day care for autistic adults there.
"It (an adult day-care) is not going to be a good selling point," Lowe said. "I'd much rather see something for the children."
Several developers have expressed interest in the property, Bellina said, but he would not name them. He said he expected action toward selling the site before the end the year.
Making the site a redevelopment zone must be approved by the state Department of Community Affairs. The borough also must seek formal proposals from developers for more concrete plans for the site, he said.
The borough will hold at least one to two public hearings, "where residents will have an opportunity to really participate in what goes in there," he said at the Aug. 7 meeting.
"This is by no means the end of the story," Bellina said.
LOCAL NEWS: Freehold OKs plan for new uses of old police site
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 08/17/06
BY ALESHA WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER
Freehold Borough Council has signed off on plans to allow redevelopment at the former police station it plans to sell at Hudson and Bennett streets.
The council last week unanimously approved a plan the Planning Board OK'd in the spring to establish the 1.35-acre township site as a redevelopment zone.
The zone would allow uses not permitted now in its residential zone, including a dance or arts studio, post office, professional offices or adult day care, Township Administrator Joseph Bellina said.
The 12,180-square-foot building, built in 1908, was the borough high school until 1926. It served as the police building until the department moved to Jackson Street in 2002.
Bellina met with neighbors last year to hear their wishes for the property.
"The one thing people in that neighborhood would like is for the building to remain," Bellina said. "By establishing the redevelopment zone, we retain some of that control."
Marilena Lowe of Bennett Street said at the meeting that she was happy the building would remain, but she is concerned about one developer's idea of putting a day care for autistic adults there.
"It (an adult day-care) is not going to be a good selling point," Lowe said. "I'd much rather see something for the children."
Several developers have expressed interest in the property, Bellina said, but he would not name them. He said he expected action toward selling the site before the end the year.
Making the site a redevelopment zone must be approved by the state Department of Community Affairs. The borough also must seek formal proposals from developers for more concrete plans for the site, he said.
The borough will hold at least one to two public hearings, "where residents will have an opportunity to really participate in what goes in there," he said at the Aug. 7 meeting.
"This is by no means the end of the story," Bellina said.