Matawan-Ab’deen board objects to Crystal Lake development Plan would overburden school system, officials say

Staff Writer

By alison granito

Matawan-Ab’deen board objects to Crystal Lake development
Plan would
overburden school
system, officials say

The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional Board of Education voiced its opposition to an application currently before the Aberdeen Township Planning Board, citing the burden the 387-unit development may place on an already crowded school system.

In addition to the resolution passed by the school board at its regular meeting last week, Superintendent of Schools Michael Klavon said that school officials plan to attend the next Planning Board session at which testimony on Crystal Lake at Aberdeen will be heard in order to voice their concerns in person.

Testimony on Crystal Lake is scheduled to resume Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Aberdeen Township municipal building, at a special meeting of the Planning Board. Greenwood Holdings, Holmdel, will be seeking preliminary major site plan approval for Crystal Lake.

Last week’s events make the Board of Education the second public entity to formally oppose the Crystal Lake development. Neighboring Old Bridge Township passed a similar resolution last month.

The area of Freneau near where Crystal Lake would be located was the center of the township’s affordable housing controversy in the 1990s.

Two proposed high-density developments, Applewood and Aberdeen Forge, stalled after nearly a decade-long legal battle over the number of affordable housing units to be included if the developments were built.

If Crystal Lake receives site plan approval, the complex would be located on a 45-acre tract of vacant land on Greenwood Road, currently zoned RA-PRD, a designation that allows for the construction of a planned residential development.

According to township zoning designations, the purpose of the RA-PRD zone is "to provide for the construction of housing for low- and moderate-income households as well as other households in other income categories."

Of the 387 units proposed, Crystal Lake would consist of 58 townhouses, 264 "stacked townhouses," and 65 low- and moderate-income apartment units.

According to Klavon, a development with nearly 400 units, many with multiple bedrooms, could have a significant impact on the school district.

"If a development of that size yielded one child per unit, we would see big problems," said Klavon.

The superintendent cited the situation at the severely overcrowded Matawan Avenue Middle School, which currently uses portable classrooms in trailers outside the main building to house student overflow.

With a likely September construction referendum to expand and upgrade facilities at the middle school, and Matawan Regional High School in the works to remedy the overcrowding, the superintendent said that a development the size of Crystal Lake could force the district to look at needs at the elementary level as well.

"This could impact our plan at the lower grades," said the superintendent.

Klavon said that the school board will ask the Planning Board to require Greenwood to make some contribution to the school system if the application is approved.

"Obviously we have a wish list," said Klavon, noting that possible requests would include additions to some of the schools.

The site where Crystal Lake has been proposed falls in the Lloyd Road School sending area.