By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – Members of the Freehold Borough Planning Board are attempting to ensure that if Freehold Raceway is sold, only age-restricted residences will be permitted to be developed in the harness track’s parking lot that is bordered by Park and Manalapan avenues.
On April 12, members of the board recommended amending the zoning regulations at that property. At present, single-family homes may be built there, but according to the amendment, the zoning will be changed to residences restricted to people age 62 and over.
The zoning amendment was preceded by a report re-examining the borough’s master plan. The plan was presented by Joe Layton of Maser Consulting.
As noted by Layton, the harness track has seen a decline in attendance and in the amount of money being wagered.
“There are concerns related to the decline at the raceway,” Layton said. “Attendance is down to 500 to 600 people. What will happen if it closes?”
According to Layton, municipal officials were concerned that the construction of single-family homes on several acres between Park and Manalapan avenues could result in more school-age children enrolling in the borough’s schools.
The board’s attorney, Ronald Cucchiaro, emphasized that the primary issue driving the zoning amendment was the need to provide housing for seniors.
Permitted uses in the revised zone would include age-restricted houses and condominiums, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, memory care facilities, adult daycare facilities and retirement communities, according to Layton.
Members of the board spoke in favor of the new zoning.
“This has been a couple of years in the making,” said Councilman George Schnurr, who sits on the board. “We are trying to avoid additional pressure on our pumping system, on our school system and on our roads, and this is the best alternative to what we have now. We want to protect the surrounding neighborhood from overdevelopment and the wrong type of development.”
“Having the right plan in place is a fantastic idea,” board Chairman Adam Reich said. “The last thing we want is for the property to be sold and used in a way that does not benefit the town.”
Residents also spoke in favor of amending the zoning.
“The school system in this town cannot handle more kids,” Reimer Leuth said. “The age restriction is great.”
Jeffrey Friedman, the business advocate for the Downtown Freehold business organization, supported rezoning the race track’s parking lot property from single-family homes to age-restricted residences, however, he cautioned the board that under certain circumstances, an approved plan for age-restricted units could be changed to a plan for homes for people of all ages.
Reich said that issue would be discussed with developers.