Residential development has issues with JTMUA

Proximity to ‘megabase’ also prompts discussion before Jackson board

BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON – No decision has been reached by the Planning Board on a proposal for 69 residential lots at South Hope Chapel Road and Ridgeway Boulevard, but the board has extended the Breeders Walk application to the end of the year.

At the June 2 meeting, the applicant was seeking a second one-year extension from the board. Instead, a six-month extension was granted in a 9-0 vote.

Planning Board engineer Douglas Klee said the applicant was seeking preliminary and final subdivision approval for 69 residential lots. The case had been remanded back to the board following court action.

The board’s planner, Anna Wainright, said her concern is that the extension of approval will grant the applicant protection against changes in lot size, sewers, and storm-water regulations, and she said there are some issues regarding threatened and endangered species on the site. She said the applicant has not gotten any further with its sewer approval.

Engineer Robert J. Romano, representing the applicant, said he received an extension last June and said that approval was the first of three for which the applicant may apply.

“At this point we have a tentative application in with the Jackson Township Municipal Utilities Authority (JTMUA). We have resubmitted plans and designs to them,” he said.

It was noted that no final decision on that aspect of the plan has been reached.

When asked about the applicant’s involvement withthe Pinelands Commission, Romano said the Pinelands original certificate was issued in January 2000. At that t ime , there were minor inconsistencies that were allowed, he said.

“Basically it was the sewer system for which we didn’t have approval,” he said. “Therefore our water quality standards were inconsistent.”

Lot size was also an issue at that time; however, that has now become more standardized.

At this point the only problem is with the public sewers that will be needed to service the development, Romano told the board.

Regarding environmental issues, Wainright said the application is dated and said regulations were different at the time it was filed.

Attorney Denis Kelly,

representing the applicant,

said certain issues remain to be worked out between the applicant and the JTMUA. He said if approval is not granted for water and sewer, eventually the time could run out for the application.

Comments relating to noise levels that will be generated by aircraft at a proposed military megabase were noted. The socalled megabase will be a combination of McGuire Air Force Base, Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst and Fort Dix. The megabase will be near the proposed Breeders Walk residential development.

Planning Board Chairman Kenneth Bressi said there is concern for future homeowners.

Kelly said the deeds would reference the military installation.

Greg Bury, an environmental engineer at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, said he believes it is important for the military to work with the residents of Jackson.

“It’s important for the continued military readiness of the base and the Navy and it’s important for the residents of Jackson,” Bury said. “The location of this (Breeders Walk) development places it less than 1 mile from the base on the south side and our runway operational noise levels to the west.”

Bury said he was not asking for any limitations or any changes to the design of the project, but as discussed, he wants notification to prospective buyers about the proximity of the military’s planned megabase.

“We’re trying to look ahead with all the changes that are coming about with the joint base, and based on that, we are making this recommendation in this case,” he said.

Bressi commended Bury for communicating the military’s plans with Jackson.

Kelly said the applicant is at the mercy of the JTMUAand asked the board to consider the extension of time for one year.

Instead, the board members approved an extension until the end of 2008.