In Neptune City: Redevelopment Moves Forward
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Neptune City Mayor Thomas Arnone outlined general plans for the borough’s redevelopment at a special meeting Monday night.
The mayor explained that he and other borough officials attended a meeting with Brownfields Inter-Agency Team (BRIT), which is comprised of 17 representatives from state agencies including environmental, financial and education.
Arnone said the meeting was extremely informative.
“We gave our pitch and the reasons for the redevelopment,” said the mayor, “we told them what Neptune City is all about.”
The mayor said the borough’s presentation was “received and perceived” positively.
Borough Attorney Mark Aikins informed council that a fourth lawsuit involving property owners in the borough is nearing settlement, allowing the redevelopment process to move forward. Three others have already been settled.
“We are now able to proceed with the next phase of redevelopment,” said Aikins, “we can get together with planners.”
In fact, Aikins said, “The settlement encourages us to move forward.”
The area of redevelopment is located mainly along Steiner Avenue, where several companies and a hotel will be taken down.
Plans call for multi-family housing, an age-restricted complex on the site of the Charline Motel (which the mayor said would fulfill affordable housing requirements) and single family homes as well.
“This is valuable property that is not being utilized,” said Arnone. “We’re just trying to improve an area that’s been run down.”
The mayor also said members of BRIT were impressed that other towns involved in redevelopment, including Bradley Beach, Neptune, and Belmar are less than a mile away.
Said Borough Administrator Joel Popkin, who also attended the meeting, “That was a big plus, we’re in a hub.”
Mayor Arnone said that single family homes are slated to be built on McClellan Place to match the development that is already there.
He also suggested putting a median in the middle of Steiner Avenue, where trees could be planted, to slow traffic down.
Regarding Park Steel and Iron Company on Evergreen Avenue, which is commercially zoned, the mayor said council would have to decide soon what to do with the property.
The mayor said the entire project will most likely be done in phases over four to six years.
“Careful and thoughtful redevelopment takes time,” said Aikins.
The mayor also suggested starting in the middle of the project’s geographic location, west of Steiner Avenue. “It will be very hard to get people into Steiner Avenue if we don’t do that.”
Popkin said the redevelopment committee should come up with a more defined plan within 60 days in preparation for presentation to planners.
“We have to tell them what we want and then have a planner tell us what will look good there.”
The mayor said he believed that there would be plenty of interest from planners and developers.
“I don’t think we’re going to be short of developers who want to be part of this project.”
For the multi-family complex in the middle of the redevelopment area, council discussed whether or not underground parking would be feasible.
Aikins said, “There may be some isolated wetlands, but if it’s less than an acre it can be filled in with an okay from the EPA.”
Council also pledged to make commercial and residential property owners part of the process, with plenty of opportunities for input.
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