BY ELAINE VAN DEVELDE
Staff Writer
KEYPORT — A developer wants to make a trade with the borough, but no deal will be done until environmental and planning concerns are covered.
Representatives from Kara Homes presented a plan at the March 2 Borough Council meeting to build about 40 townhouses set back 12 feet on a small, 1,500-square-foot, borough-owned lot along Beers Street.
In exchange, the borough would receive a 7,069-square-foot lot in the same area and the developer would convert it to a park.
The park would include a public access walkway along Lupatatong Creek while the proposed townhouse complex would also run along the creek near wetlands.
Kara Homes Vice President Michael Carpino said his company plans to apply for the proposed construction with the state Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA), which sets guidelines under the state Department of Environmental Protection for anything built near wetlands or coastal plains.
"Yes, we are prepared to submit a new application [to CAFRA] in conjunction with our application to the borough," said Carpino.
The application reflects a reduction in the originally proposed number of units from 51 to between 41 and 44.
The development is being considered for inclusion in the borough’s pending redevelopment plan, designed to overhaul run-down areas and revitalize the waterfront area.
Councilman John Doyle, who is the council’s buildings and grounds committee liaison, will "get a last assessment of the property and the feasibility for swapping. See if it’s a good idea or not," Mayor John Merla said.
Doyle said he and the committee would assess the property, and they were expected to present a prepared a report for review at last night’s council meeting.