News
Middletown To Study Redevelopment Of Port Monmouth Road Area
By Ryan Fennell
MIDDLETOWN - On Tuesday night, the Middletown Township Committee voted to authorize the Township Planning Board to initiate redevelopment investigation for the neighborhood of North Middletown, specifically the commercial zone along Port Monmouth Road.
The Township has received a grant in the amount of $500,000 specifically for the redevelopment or revitalization of this particular area of Middletown.
Mayor Pamela Brightbill pulled the resolution from the consent agenda in order to give the audience, many of whom are residents of the neighborhood, more information on what is actually taking place.
A published report regarding the investigation contained language that implied the possible use of Eminent Domain according to Brightbill.
Brightbill insisted that that the use of Eminent Domain was not the intent of the redevelopment investigation.
Township Planning Director Jason Greenspan outlined for the Committee and the residents what the resolution would allow.
"The term redevelopment brings up the specter of Eminent Domain on occasion and people have some fears about what that term means," Greenspan said. "What it means in this neighborhood is to reinforce and revitalize, primarily the commercial district along Port Monmouth Road."
Greenspan said that the Township has looked at certain properties in the area and have determined that there is a "certain degree of decline." "The redevelopment process would look to stabilize properties that may just be hanging on," Greenspan said.
Greenspan said that approximately 31 properties have been identified as needing to be examined as part of the investigation by the Planning Board.
"There are eight different criteria that the Planning Board would look at in detail," Greenspan said. "If they meet the criteria, there would be a public hearing (on the findings). I don't know if the properties will formally meet the criteria - all or any of them. The strategy is to focus on the neighborhood and see what needs to be brought in and what needs reinforcement. It's not necessarily about taking people's property away."
Brightbill read from the resolution in an attempt to quell any fears the public might have about the Township using Eminent Domain.
"Authorizing this investigation would not allow the Township to use Eminent Domain due to the Township previously adopting a policy against the use of Eminent Domain," Brightbill said.
Although the Committee took the time to explain that Eminent Domain was not the issue being discussed or voted on, the public was more concerned with the extent of which the neighborhood would be helped. Many cited a prevalence of drugs and crime that permeated the area and needed to be addressed.
Lifelong resident of the area Pat Ross addressed the Committee and mentioned a previous grant that had been given to the area for the purposes of Beautification. Ross said that the property owners did not maintain it.
"If you give money after money (to the businesses) they should have to answer to what they do with the money," Ross said. "We need this (revitalization). You should expect something back from these people. It's not going to get any better if nobody has to answer for their actions."
Holly Morgan, a resident of the neighborhood since 2002, also indicating that there was a major drug and crime problem in the North Middletown section of the Township.
"I have two children and I can't take my daughter for a walk on a Saturday afternoon because I'm afraid," Morgan said. "We're paying as much (in taxes) as the people on the 'good' side of town and what are we getting in return?"
Township Administrator Anthony Mercantante stressed that the neighborhood community would be highly involved in the redevelopment and revitalization of the area.
"The community will have a say in how the money is spent in the area," Mercantante said.
However, Mercantante said that the problems in the area would not be corrected in a month's time but would take longer for things to ultimately change.
"The $500,000 will be a great kick start to the revitalization of the area," Mercantante added.
Greenspan also noted that there would be several community meetings with the Planning Board to find out what the neighborhood needs and what assets it possesses that need to be strengthened.
"This is something that the community should be looking forward to," Brightbill said.
