Special meeting regarding 6-acre zoning in Upper Freehold will be held on Oct. 27.
By: Dana Lynn Flatekval
UPPER FREEHOLD Residents who have questions or concerns regarding 6-acre zoning have until the end of next week to submit them to the township in preparation for a second special meeting on the topic Oct. 27.
That meeting has been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Allentown High School auditorium on High Street. Township Planner Richard Coppola will answer questions posed in recent weeks on a proposal to rezone the township from 3 acres to 6 acres. The meeting will not feature a public comment period.
Mr. Coppola presented his initial report on 6-acre zoning at a township meeting Sept. 22. The report looked at whether rezoning would be consistent with the goals and vision of the township’s Master Plan. Basically, the zoning change would require a minimum of 6 acres for the construction of a single-family house.
"In my opinion it would be in the best interest for Upper Freehold to go to 6-acre zoning," Mr. Coppola said at the presentation. "I think it would maintain the environment and rural characteristics of the township and agree with the Master Plan’s vision statement."
Although the public was given a chance to question Mr. Coppola on the proposal, some members of the committee felt more time was needed to digest the information and allow the public to submit more comments and questions.
Committeemen Sal Diecidue and Bill Miscoski said at the Sept. 23 meeting they needed more clarification on certain details presented by Mr. Coppola.
"I have a lot of questions regarding the report," Mr. Miscoski said that night.
He asked to have another workshop meeting to discuss the report.
Although Deputy Mayor David Horsnall and Mayor John Mele said the report was thorough and complete, Committeeman Stephen Alexander said at that meeting that the committee should have had a chance to ask Mr. Coppola questions, which they did not have an opportunity to do that night.
Mayor Mele said in a later interview that at that time of the presentation he didn’t feel it was appropriate because the committee had just heard the report and wanted fellow members to read it over first.
At the Oct. 7 Township Committee meeting residents spoke passionately on the issue of rezoning, which has been a hotly debated topic in the township in recent month. Committeemen said they would address their specific concerns at the special meeting on Oct. 27.
"I have tons of questions that I will be asking," Mr. Alexander said.
Mayor John Mele said residents can submit their questions they would like answered by Mr. Coppola by fax, writing or e-mail. The fax numbers is (609) 758-1183 and the e-mail address is [email protected]. The township’s mailing address is 314 Route 539, P.O. Box 89, Cream Ridge NJ 08514.
Questions need to be submitted by Oct. 22 and should include the writer’s name and address. Anonymous questions will not be answered.
Mr. Coppola’s report on 6-acre zoning is available in text form without the maps on the township’s Web site. Copies also can be borrowed from the Upper Freehold Municipal Building on Route 539.