FREEHOLD — The Borough Council has adopted a plan that is aimed at boosting the future viability of Freehold Borough’s downtown.
The Freehold Center Core Revitalization Plan will focus on additional parking, seek to preserve Freehold’s historic housing stock and create a more a pedestrianfriendly atmosphere in town. The parking situation could be addressed through the construction of a parking structure, according to the plan.
Councilman George Schnurr has made it clear that the plan does not call for the seizure of property under eminent domain (condemnation).
The revitalization plan will focus on an area designated by municipal officials for action: the intersection of West Main, South and Throckmorton streets, and the area bounded by Throckmorton Street to the west, Spring Street to the east, Broad Street/Lafayette Street to the north and Mechanic Street/Hudson Street to the south.
The revitalization plan was developed by David G. Roberts, a licensed planner employed by CMX, Manalapan. The Freehold Borough Planning Board has put its stamp of approval on the document as well.
The ordinance accepting the document states that the revitalization plan must be substantially consistent with the borough’s master plan and the periodic master plan reexamination report of the Planning Board and “is in conformity with the State Development and Redevelopment Plan as it encourages revitalization of an existing downtown area that consists of older development.”
As to the potential construction of a parking structure, it is stated that “motor vehicle parking garages (are permitted), provided that no garage shall front on a public street unless fronted by appropriate streetlevel retail, and/or mixed use space where permitted.”
The provision of walking promenades, pedestrian plazas, parks and playgrounds are also addressed.
The ordinance states that the revitalization plan is based on smart growth planning principles including “revitalizing the commercial district; strengthening neighborhoods; providing economic development opportunities; providing housing opportunities; providing a mixture of land uses; providing a pedestrian-oriented environment and utilizing form-based requirements and high quality design standards.”
The ordinance also cites a list of goals for the redevelopment plan including returning vacant or parking-oriented properties to full productivity by creating new development opportunities for a balance of private and public-private investment; providing safe and adequate garage parking using architectural design techniques that conceal the visibility of parking structures, and to provide ample on-street parking on as many streets as possible; to encourage innovative mixed-use blocks of development allowing greater variety in type, design, and layout of building types by the creation of and the more efficient use of open space, inviting streetscapes and by integrating parking ancillary to these new uses.
Also on the list is providing for the creation of places which promote citizen security, pedestrian activities and social interaction and establishing an integrated, healthy, vibrant, livable district, incorporating traditional mixed-use development while rejecting the suburban imposed building typologies and excessive, unconnected open surface parking.
The revitalization plan also seeks to increase the tax base for Freehold Borough. In addition, it seeks to promote environmentally conscious buildings, using renewable materials and relying on natural means for ventilation and illuminating interiors.
Expanding the level of residential and commercial activity in the downtown area, thereby increasing the potential for economic activity and job creation is also part of the plan.
Some additional objectives of the revitalization plan are to provide a public parking garage with street level retail uses to enhance the downtown. Providing for the expansion of Borough Hall and its administrative offices, which will be integrated into a new mixed-use development and provide new housing opportunities are also objectives of the comprehensive revitalization plan.