At a September meeting of the Manalapan Planning Board, details of the proposed Manalapan Crossing development were presented by the developer’s high-priced lawyer, architect/planner, engineer, etc.
There were photos of this massive, densely designed development, including commercial and residential buildings. The room was full with citizens, but we did not have the opportunity to comment that night.
What’s at stake? The loss of 120-plus acres to development that is too intense and densely laid out for the southern part of Manalapan. Past and present governing body actions, whether controlled by Democrats or Republicans, has led us down this overdevelopment path.
Haven’t we done enough damage to the northern part of Manalapan with overdevelopment? And now they want to destroy the southern part of town, too. Does the town really believe that because the developer is pledging road improvements at Route 33 and Millhurst Road this is going to reduce traffic and make it more manageable?
Do the Planning Board and Township Committee members think the residents are so gullible that we should believe the findings of a developer-paid professional’s traffic study?
At the meeting, the professional stated that with improvements, the development site would have negligible effects on traffic in the area. The people are owed an independent traffic study, not a traffic study done by the developer who has economic profits at stake.
Manalapan residents won in 2015 when we opposed and stopped the first attempt of the Manalapan Crossing development at Route 33 and Millhurst Road. Subsequently, the governing body adopted an ordinance to give the green light for the Manalapan Crossing development by the same developer.
They somehow rationalize this was necessary due to affordable housing obligations. Up to 70 units of special housing and/or affordable housing do not require the entire 120-plus acres of open space to disappear at that site. They also rationalized the ordinance passage by saying this proposal is less intense than the prior one.
Perhaps the number of units may have gone down, but every single acre has now become subject to this massive proposed monstrosity, including more than 1,000 parking spots. People should look at it and make their own decision; common sense dictates they forcefully oppose this massive destruction of our quality of life in Manalapan.
Certain economists, including one from Harvard University, are forecasting a $12 trillion recession in the upcoming year(s). Other published reports are expressing concerns over a stock market crash or massive correction. Big department stores, franchise businesses (including restaurants) and small businesses are closing facilities, resulting in lost jobs.
And, our town is promoting a development they maintain will bring a tax ratable and bring economic growth to southern Manalapan. I have more faith in the people’s common sense than the myths being propagated by this group of elected office holders and their appointed Planning Board members.
Many studies have shown that the more commercial development there is, the higher the taxes paid by the rest of taxpayers in a community will be. When was the last time taxpayers saw their taxes go down as a result of more commercial activity in their towns? Certainly, that has not been the case in Manalapan. Our taxes are going up.
It’s time that the master plan governing municipal land use is reviewed in a comprehensive way and it’s time that when there is development, it is done in a less intense way with land conservation as an element in every proposed development. Towns have to be less concerned with the profits of developers and more concerned with the common good of all of its residents. Let’s stop this monstrosity now.
Deborah Smarth
Manalapan