Developer wants to convert senior residences to all ages

BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

FREEHOLD — Orchard Street in Freehold Borough, which has remained undeveloped for years, may soon see a plan materialize that will bring a group of residential units that will dress up the street and complement the existing neighborhood.

A plan to build 16 nonage-restricted residential units in eight duplex buildings met with favor from members of the Borough Council on Aug. 6.

A plan for the development was presented to the council by attorney Gerald Sonnenblick, who represents Roger Passarella, of Bay Dock Holdings LLC, Lavallette.

Bay Dock Holdings is now known as Del Ray Holdings, LLC.

Moving forward, Del Ray Holdings will now have to file an application with the Freehold Borough Land Use Board to present its plan for the residential project. Members of the public will have a chance to comment on the application during the Land Use Board process.

By way of recapping the project, Sonnenblick explained that Bay Dock Holdings received approval to build 30 age-restricted units on Orchard Street in 2007.

At that time, municipal officials adopted an ordinance making the construction of age-restricted condominiums possible by rezoning Orchard Street from commercial manufacturing to a zone where age-restricted condominiums are permitted.

Sonnenblick went on to explain that state legislators subsequently enacted a law that permits approved age-restricted homes to be converted to nonage-restricted homes if certain criteria are met.

He said Del Ray Holdings has met the criteria for making such a conversion to the proposed residential units on Orchard Street.

Meetings with Freehold Borough representatives resulted in a reduction in density from 30 age-restricted units to the current plan for 16 nonage-restricted units in eight buildings. Several of the units are expected to meet affordable housing guidelines.

Sonnenblick said the plan for nonage-restricted housing is more in keeping with the neighborhood than age-restricted housing would be.

No date has been set for the Del Ray Holdings application to be heard by the Land Use Board.

Sonnenblick told the members of the governing body and the public that Del Ray Holdings is in the process of acquiring and improving several other properties on Orchard Street.