Freehold eyes pedestrian-oriented downtown redevel

[admin]

www.app.com/article/20081126/NEWS01/811260369/1285/LOCAL09?GID=F153sXC8/OnvFhWCJQVyt0kSuTTaVNuDQhWljjG6PEo%3D

FREEHOLD — A comprehensive zoning ordinance that would allow the borough to begin redevelopment plans will be up for discussion Monday.

The Borough Council is expected to decide on the ordinance, which would approve the Freehold center core redevelopment plan, following a public hearing.

If approved, the plan would set out a framework for revitalizing an area roughly bounded by Throckmorton Street to the west, Spring Street to the east, Broad and Lafayette streets to the north and Mechanic and Hudson streets to the south. The zone has been designated an area in need of rehabilitation, according to the ordinance.

The ordinance was generated from a redevelopment study conducted by the Manalapan-based engineering and consulting firm CMX.

That study called for an emphasis on pedestrian-oriented development in the zone that provides a mix of residential and commercial uses.

One significant change proposed was the creation of a parking garage to address long-standing parking issues.

Parking lots sprawl across downtown Freehold. A parking garage could free up those lots for development, CMX planner David Roberts has said.

Adoption of the plan does not give the borough the power to seize property through eminent domain, according to the study. The borough Planning Board approved the plan at a meeting this month, Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina said.

Kim Predham: [phone] or [e-mail]. This report contains information from a previous Asbury Park Press report.

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newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/1126/front_page/035.html

Board lends support to revitalization plan
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer


FREEHOLD — The Freehold Borough Planning Board has approved a proposal for the Freehold Center Core Redevelopment and Vision Revitalization Plan for the downtown area of the municipality.

Board members approved the plan, but included a recommendation to the Borough Council that Throckmorton Street — which lies just outside the targeted downtown area — be improved as well.

The vision study plan could change the streetscape of downtown Freehold Borough. It focuses on additional parking accommodations, preserving the borough's historic housing stock and creating a more pedestrian friendly atmosphere in town.

David G. Roberts, a licensed planner with CMX, Manalapan, presented the study to the board on Nov. 12. He had previously presented it to the Borough Council.



The basis for the revitalization plan is the designation by borough officials of the land at the intersection of Main, South and Throckmorton streets, and bounded by Throckmorton Street to the west, Spring Street to the east, Broad Street/Lafayette Street on the north and Mechanic/Hudson Street to the south, as an area in need of rehabilitation.

The resolution for the designation took place on May 21, 2007.

The study states that "excessive surface parking and sprawling areas of asphalt" in certain areas of the downtown had to be in the forefront of the effort. The possibility of building a parking garage has also been mentioned. The plan calls for the creation of a pedestrian plaza — a centrally located public plaza consisting of a pedestrian-only courtyard.

Carl Steinberg, owner of the Carlton Station commercial plaza at Monmouth Avenue and Throckmorton Street, has asked that attention also be paid to the Throckmorton Street corridor.

Borough Councilman George Schnurr, who sits on the Planning Board, said the vision study seeks to revitalize the downtown area by preserving the small-town unique character of downtown Freehold. It encourages the construction of buildings that maintain that unique character and makes the downtown more inviting to pedestrians, according to Schnurr..

"The project is similar to others in the state which have succeeded," he said.

Schnurr said the revitalization plan follows a trend by urban developers to weave residential and retail uses together to create communities where residents eat, shop and sleep within walking distance.

"After creating a parking solution that rids the need for many parking lots, Freehold Borough could work with private developers, a move that could transform the borough's landscape," Schnurr said. "It would be my hope that Freehold Borough would encourage current owners to redevelop their stores."

Schnurr said the revitalization plan calls for the adoption of a series of new ordinances that would allow for new development, but let Freehold Borough keep control over how new construction would

proceed.

"I want to make it clear that the plan does not call for the seizure of property under eminent domain," he said, adding that he is in favor of the Planning Board's recommendation to include the Throckmorton Street corridor in the revitalization plan.

"Along with the decision to approve the plan, the board members decided to recommend fixing up Throckmorton Street while we're at it. This has always been of interest to me even before the vision study," Schnurr said. "I think we should make all of the arteries leading into town more appealing and inviting for people coming into town," he said. Schnurr said borough officials commissioned the revitalization study more than a year ago and said now that the final report is completed, talks can move forward with land owners, residents and other government entities.

Richard Gatto, the executive director of the Freehold Center Partnership, which oversees activities and events in the downtown area, attended the Nov. 12 Planning Board meeting and later said he is in agreement with the revitalization plan that has been developed by CMX.

"There has already been outside interest as the plan is starting to unfold and this is a positive sign. The timing is almost perfect," Gatto said, adding that even though the economy is struggling, "this plan should be a hefty sweet shot of economic recovery for us."

Gatto said the planned opening of a Zebu Forno restaurant, the reconstruction of the American Hotel and the relocation of an established hair salon, Bella Rosa, all point to a continued economic revitalization of the downtown area. He complimented the borough's initiative in regard to commissioning the vision study plan and said he is looking forward to working with borough officials and supporting the plan.

[bergsteiger]

"the vision study seeks to revitalize the downtown area by preserving the small-town unique character of downtown Freehold"

How does building more stuff preserve the small town character

[novillero]

I don't see what sort of retail businesses they are going to put in town. Without a plan that includes retail stores, it is simply a spending plan accompanied with a beautification project.

I would be in favor of low cost solutions in the initial stages of beautification while getting good quality stores here. But I don't see the reasoning behind spending first, and hoping for later results.

What is the plan for stores? what niche? or do we compete with the mall? was this in the vision study?

anyone see the vision study or attend these meetings?

[admin]

Nov 26, 2008 8:53:04 GMT -5 novillero said:

I don't see what sort of retail businesses they are going to put in town. Without a plan that includes retail stores, it is simply a spending plan accompanied with a beautification project.

I would be in favor of low cost solutions in the initial stages of beautification while getting good quality stores here. But I don't see the reasoning behind spending first, and hoping for later results.

What is the plan for stores? what niche? or do we compete with the mall? was this in the vision study?

anyone see the vision study or attend these meetings?

I have a copy of the vision study. I will peruse it and see if your questions are answered.

But, you bring up good points, without a solid marketing plan to attract desirable stores, we will just see more crap stores from North Jersey setting up shop. That will detract from the small town appeal an instead give us urban blight.

[bergsteiger]

Nov 26, 2008 8:00:54 GMT -5 lisas84 said:

That really is an excellent question, Bergsteiger.

I would surmise that a bit of the vision study entails renovation and refurbishment of existing buildings and that what would be newly built will be designed visually to reflect the mid- to latter 1800s.

While I'm a big fan of that type of styling. It's not the most energy efficient way of building if you take into account the heating and cooling. I thought we should be concerned with saving the planet.