By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – A committee in Freehold Borough has come forward with concepts to redevelop and improve the municipality.
Representatives of the Freehold Borough Community Redevelopment Committee appeared before the Borough Council on Nov. 22 to present a report about a vision for the future of the town. According to the committee, six months were dedicated to creating the report.
Members of the committee emphasized that the report is intended as a framework for future redevelopment and is not a specific plan.
According to the committee, by using the report as a foundation for future planning and development efforts, Freehold Borough would be a desirable and sought-after municipality in which to live, work and do business.
The committee listed seven values for consideration in redeveloping the borough: connectivity, culture, entrepreneurship, historic integrity, inclusivity, quality of life and sustainability.
Goals of the committee’s vision include redeveloping vacant, parking-oriented, abandoned and/or underused properties to become more productive uses; pursuing redevelopment opportunities that increase property values; accommodating safe, convenient and ample parking; encouraging transit-oriented development that will take advantage of the Freehold Borough bus station’s potential; and providing people with the lasting experience of a safe and vibrant community.
The committee said the goals of the vision report should initially be implemented in the area surrounding the bus station, which encompasses sections of Throckmorton, Broad and Main streets.
According to the committee, municipal officials have applied to the New Jersey Department of Transportation for designation as a Transit Village. The borough was awarded a federal grant from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) to fund professional services in support of the Transit Village application.
As the NJPTA is funding professional planning and engineering services to support the Transit Village application, directing redevelopment efforts toward the area around the bus station would be beneficial to the borough because sections of the streets in the area have been characterized by neglect and underuse, according to the committee.
To move forward in implementing the vision, the committee is recommending that municipal officials continue to engage the public in planning processes, assemble a professional redevelopment team, offer public information seminars about redevelopment and the opportunities it brings, create a website to distribute information regarding ongoing development and redevelopment projects, and pursue local planning initiatives.
The Community Redevelopment Committee’s report received praise from members of the Borough Council.
“I think this is a wonderful report,” Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer said. “It is indicative of the committee’s love for Freehold.”
“I have to thank the committee for the report,” Councilman Kevin Kane said. “This is incredible.”
Mayor Nolan Higgins recognized Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina for his role in the report, noting that Bellina had a prominent role in the creation of the Community Redevelopment Committee.