BY TOM CAIAZZA
Staff Writer
MATAWAN – The Borough Council has commissioned a study that will address future parking and circulation in the downtown area, including contingencies for the stalled transit village redevelopment project.
The Smart Growth parking grant, which the borough applied for in 2002, was awarded to Beacon Planning to study the logistics of parking in the Main Street area based on future potential developments. The parameters of the study were discussed at the June 20 council meeting and were expanded to include possibilities for the stalled transit village redevelopment plan.
Victor Furmanec, a representative from Beacon Planning, said that the first step is to determine what type of businesses should be put downtown, such as retail, restaurants/entertainment or offices. The theme of the downtown would play a crucial role in the feasibility of parking.
“Once you establish what you want Main Street to become,” Furmanec said, “then you can take a look at some of the ancillary programs.”
According to Borough Administrator Fred Carr, the point of the meeting was to create clear parameters between the council and the firm, and to address the concerns of both entities. What came out of the meeting was a vague mandate to study the parking implications of a downtown that may or may not need to co-exist with the transit village redevelopment project.
Councilwoman Debbie Buragina suggested that the study include plans if the transit village were a reality, stating that “this would work better if we were finalized on the train station.”
Carr said that in order to do that, Beacon would need to narrow the scope of their study and that the end result would be, in essence, contingency plans for a redevelopment plan that has been stalled for more than six months. He offered an analogy for what Beacon’s charge has become.
“If we go on vacation what do we do if it rains, and what do we do if it doesn’t rain?” Carr said.
Furmanec said that a similar problem occurred in Asbury Park, where the discussion of major redevelopment on the beachfront was stalling the development of the downtown area. Furmanec said that he came up with contingency plans similar to those which will take place in Matawan.
“What the council is saying is, ‘Can you do the same thing here?’ ” Borough Attorney Pasquale Menna said,
Carr said that having the Borough Council resume discussions regarding redevelopment is a positive because there are “differing philosophies” among the group’s members regarding the subject.
“Hopefully this will keep us moving in a discussion, which they need to do,” Carr said.
Councilwoman Donna Gould said that despite litigation that is impeding the transit village project, there is still the need to discuss the matter.
“Litigation is not stopping us from talking about redevelopment while we can,” Gould said.
She also said that Furmanec’s study will provide options for the borough to consider.
“You’re providing a road map for the directions we can go,” Gould said.