By: Al Wicklund
MONROE A much-debated proposal to amend the township’s Master Plan to permit a planned retirement community of 950 units in the area around Old Church Road was introduced at Monday’s Township Council meeting.
The area, bounded by Union Valley, Applegarth and Federal roads, currently is zoned for single-family houses on ¾ acre lots.
To change the zoning the Township Council must approve the proposal.
The proposal, in the form of an ordinance, will have its second reading and a public hearing at the council’s May 6 meeting. The council is expected to vote for or against the proposed amendment that night.
There was no public hearing Monday when the council voted to accept the proposal for consideration next month. In addition, there was no comment from anyone during the public-comment portion of the meeting when the council is open to hear whatever members of the public might have to say.
It was a dramatic difference from the Planning Board meeting Feb. 28 when a standing-room-only crowd had many speakers and saw the board adopt a resolution calling for an amendment to the Master Plan to provide for the retirement community.
It was passed by the Planning Board after some two hours of discussion.
Monroe officials have said the current zoning would mean 300 to 350 single-family houses 139 of which have been approved for construction by U.S. Homes and hundreds more children for an already crowded school system.
Under the amendment, the PRC would be built in place of the single-family-house development that U.S. Homes has planned to build on the site.
The Planning Board can recommend changes, but any change to the Master Plan is subject to the Township Council’s approval.
The arguments for the PRC at the Planning Board meeting included it providing a substantial tax ratable without the impact of school-age children that 350 single-family houses would produce.
Those opposed to the PRC said the township’s housing needs more diversity and greater balance.
Several people favored use of the land for open space, but were told by township Engineer Ernie Feist it would take $30 million to $35 million to purchase the land to keep it from being developed.
