for Cassville requires
additional consideration
Jackson planners delay
changes to master plan
Historic village label
for Cassville requires
additional consideration
BY JOYCE BLAY
Staff Writer
JACKSON — The Planning Board postponed adoption of a subcommittee’s recommended changes to the township’s master plan, and instead carried the action to a June 21 caucus meeting.
The subcommittee began its presentation at the end of the board’s May 17 meeting. After hearing residents’ concerns, board Chairman Marvin Krakower said board members needed to discuss the proposed changes further.
The board is considering three changes to the community’s master plan. Two of the three proposed amendments address future commercial development in Jackson, while the third would implement environmental protections supported by the Pinelands Commission and the state.
Under the first suggested amendment to the master plan, neighborhoods would be zoned to exclude businesses that do not provide needed goods or services to residents living there.
The second proposed amendment would designate the section of town located along Cassville Road (Route 571), adjacent to the intersection of Veterans Highway (Route 528) a historic village zoned for commercial development. The move would ensure that the picturesque character of the area would be maintained whether residential homes or commercial businesses are built there.
The third suggestion would implement recommendations by the Pinelands Commission that would protect environmental resources and reduce the potential for residential development in sensitive areas.
The proposed changes were referred back to committee after John Rutherford questioned the decision to rezone the Cassville area from Pinelands Village to Pinelands Village Commercial 2. Rutherford owns three vacant lots on Cassville Road that he would like to develop residentially.
Rutherford also questioned why rezoning the area would be beneficial to commercial business when there was not enough visibility from Toms River Road (Route 571) to attract customers.
The board responded by asking the subcommittee to re-examine its recommendation to rezone Cassville and report back with revised suggestions at next month’s caucus meeting.
Ginnie Alvino, who lives in Cassville, also questioned the board about its plan to rezone the neighborhood where she lives in order to develop it commercially.
"I’ve heard for years that (the county) was going to widen the (Cassville) intersection," Alvino said. "How will that affect your plan" to designate the area a historic village? "Would (my house) be one of the homes affected?"
Alvino lives in one of three homes next to a vacant lot.
"In the event you wish to sell your home, (it) would be (classified) village commercial," Township Planner Rick Ragan said.
Ragan said residents could continue to live there, but if they sell their homes buyers could use the properties as commercial or residential. Ragan said the designation of the village would benefit the neighborhood as it is gentrified in coming years.
"The goal is to create cute Victorian houses that respond to the character of the area," he said. "It would encourage commercial development."
Other residents who spoke during the public forum that followed the presentation expressed concern that Jackson Commons, a proposed commercial development by Leigh Realty, Brick, would have an adverse environmental impact in the area.
Planning Board Attorney Mark Troncone cautioned residents not to discuss the Jackson Commons application, which is currently being heard by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. However, the 38-building, 2.9-million-square-foot project continued to generate concern among residents who were worried about its potential impact on Jackson’s environment.
Denise Garner, vice chairwoman of the Jackson Environmental Commission, said she did not understand how the board could permit Jackson Commons to locate on a stream of the Metedeconk River.
"You have this river that goes into the Pinelands," she said. "How do you protect it once it leaves? You’re chopping a river in half. It needs to be in regulatory agreement."
"The plan may not be perfect," Ragan said, "but it’s better than most."