Opposition kills Indian Run plans

Upper Freehold Planning Board hears second conceptual hearing for proposed Breza Road development.

By: Cynthia Koons
   UPPER FREEHOLD — The concept plan for the 375-unit residential and commercial Indian Run development dissolved Tuesday night when the Upper Freehold Planning Board sided with the dozens of residents in attendance who expressed their opposition to the project.
   The Planning Board heard developer Somerset Golf, LLC’s proposal for the Indian Run project during a second conceptual public hearing. The first hearing in April was postponed because the number of people in attendance exceeded the Upper Freehold municipal building’s meeting room capacity.
   Bob Heibell, the project’s spokesperson, said this was the fourth time he has presented a development concept for this 92-acre plot on Breza Road. This time, his presentation was made in the Allentown High School auditorium, a larger venue than at the municipal building.
   The various development plans presented, which the board may revisit now that the latest Indian Run concept has been rejected, included an industrial warehouse park and a golf course with a 100-house residential component.
   "This tonight is a unique opportunity to bring in the other property, which is known as Winchester Estates," Mr. Heibell said.
   The township’s open space committee requested that Mr. Heibell present the project again after the first concept hearing was postponed and the project was pulled from the books in April.
   At that time, a 41-house development called Winchester Estates was preliminarily approved for the 100-acre site next to the school campus. The latest draft of the Indian Run plan would include the acquisition of that property and subsequent land dedication for open space.
   However, none of the development would be possible without a rezoning of the property, Mr. Heibell said. Litigation in the mid-’90s resulted in a "commerce park" zoning designation along with a zone that accommodates single-family dwellings in that region.
   The latest Indian Run project, which was heard by nearly 100 residents Tuesday night, consisted of a "non-age-restricted housing development" along with 75,000 square feet of retail space, which would include a supermarket.
   Planning Board members expressed their concerns with the environmental impact of the project, as well as the increases in population and effects on the school system.
   "I’m particularly concerned relative to the Indian Run/Doctors Creek (watershed)," board member David Horsnall said. "The realignment of Breza Road obviously becomes a Washington Township issue as well as a Mercer County issue with the Route 526 intersection."
   Board member Barry Wright addressed school issues, which were a point of contention in both Allentown and Upper Freehold this year.
   "Absorbing 1,000 students in the school district would be a horrendous thing," Mr. Wright said.
   According to resident Wayne Smith, an additional $6.41 million in school tax would need to be generated to offset the cost of the new children in the township.
   "Recently there was mention of a need to build another primary school," he said. "This was based on data that did not include the Indian Run development."
   Allentown High School senior John Dawkins Jr. was the only school-age person to speak at the meeting.
   "All 18 years of my young life I’ve seen farm after farm disappear," he said.
   With this project’s potential tax burden in mind, he said, "people aren’t going to be able to afford to send their kids to college."
   Upper Freehold resident Joe Mauer addressed a number of development issues, ranging from the school impact to traffic congestion.
   "Population growth needs to be in balance with the school’s ability to meet the demand," Mr. Mauer said. "Higher taxes is not the answer — good planning is."
   Many audience members addressed planning issues and specific concerns such as traffic impact studies, which the developers were not prepared to present at the concept hearing.
   Mr. Heibell emphasized that the project was in a "conceptual phase," yet residents were not silenced. Repeatedly, board member Daniel Von Voorhis had to ask the crowd to refrain from its boisterous applause.
   After the public hearing concluded, township CFO Dianne Kelly said she, too, felt the development may be more than the township could handle.
   "I feel that we’re already beginning to buckle under the weight of development," she said. "New schools will be necessary. I don’t think this plan meets our previous historical (provisions)."
   When the meeting came to a close, the Planning Board expressed interest in hearing the commercial warehousing proposal again, as it would bring in tax revenue with a limited impact on the schools.