MANALAPAN – The Manalapan Planning Board has granted final major subdivision approval to Milford Estates, LLC, which plans to construct seven homes on a 5.5-acre parcel with frontage along Taylors Mills Road.
Board members took the action during a meeting on Feb. 14. The homes are a permitted use in the R-20 (half-acre) zone.
Chairwoman Kathryn Kwaak, vice Chairman Todd Brown, and board members Daria D’Agostino, Alan Ginsberg, Barry Fisher, David Kane, John Castronovo, Deputy Mayor Jack McNaboe and Township Committeeman Barry Jacobson voted “yes” on a motion to grant final approval.
Milford Estates, which is represented by attorney Peter H. Klouser, received preliminary major subdivision approval and design waiver relief in August 2018. The applicant’s request for final approval was consistent with the preliminary approval.
As part of the preliminary approval, the board granted design waiver relief for lot size relative to the inclusion of basements and the existing conditions of the property and additional design waiver relief regarding grading and slopes.
During the Feb. 14 meeting, engineer William E. Jensen Jr. appeared on behalf of the applicant. No new testimony was introduced, as Jensen reiterated previous testimony. He said the property on Taylors Mills Road is across from the St. Thomas Lutheran Church and is bordered by an unimproved driveway known as Ike’s Lane.
Each new home will have a two-car garage, a walk-out basement and a driveway with a turn-around so residents will not have to back out into Taylors Mills Road, he said. Public water and public sewer service will be provided to the homes.
Jensen said the applicant has conditional approval from the Monmouth County Planning Board, plans in place for service from the Gordon’s Corner Water Company (water) and the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority (sewer), approval from the Manalapan Fire Bureau and approval from the Monmouth County Health Department pending the removal of a well that is on the property.
Klouser said he had attempted to reach an agreement with Mario Lalima, who is a resident of Ike’s Lane, regarding the dedication of property to create a wider entrance to Ike’s Lane. Klouser said he had been unable to reach an agreement for that offer.
Lalima spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting and asked for clarification on certain issues. He said the residents of Ike’s Lane drive on the Milford Estates property to get to their homes and to Taylors Mills Road.
After some discussion among Klouser, the board’s attorney and himself, Lalima said he would accept a 10-foot-wide strip of land from Milford Estates that is expected to improve the conditions at Ike’s Lane.
Klouser said his client would also widen the apron at the entrance to Ike’s Lane to help facilitate the movement of vehicles at that location.
Ginsberg made a motion to grant Milford Estates final approval and board members passed the motion with a unanimous vote.