JACKSON – Testimony is expected to resume on April 1 before the Planning Board on an applicant’s plan to construct 1,100 residential units between Perrineville Road and West Veterans Highway in the Cassville section of Jackson.
The applicant, Jackson Parke, is seeking approval of a General Development Plan (GDP) that proposes 551 single-family and multi-family units on a 226-acre “north section” off Perrineville Road, and 549 single-family and multi-family units on a 129-acre “south section” off West Veterans Highway.
Testimony indicated that 20 percent of the residential units would be designated as affordable housing; 120 units in the north section and 100 units in the south section.
Affordable housing is defined as housing that is sold or rented at below market rates to individuals and families whose income meets certain guideline.
Attorney Jason R. Tuvel, engineer Daphne Galvin and traffic engineer Nicholas Verderese represented Jackson Parke when the application came before the board on March 18.
“This parcel was once much larger and it was contiguous. Now we have two parcels that are not contiguous, with the portion in between dedicated to various governmental agencies for preservation,” Tuvel said.
Tuvel said the application before the board is for a GDP, which is essentially a concept plan for a large development. He said if the GDP is approved, the applicant would have to return at a later date to seek preliminary approval and final approval for specific site plans of the proposed developments.
“This property, in total, is 355 acres,” Tuvel said, explaining that the proposed GDP is based on an ordinance the Township Council adopted pursuant to a court order.
Tuvel said the GDP complies with Jackson’s housing plan and with the requirements of the MF-AH-8 Mixed Residential-Affordable Housing zone in which it is being proposed.
The north and south sections of Jackson Parke would be connected through two lots.
“There are clubhouses and other amenity spaces planned for this residential development,” Tuvel said, adding that other improvements would include sewer infrastructure, road improvements and a traffic signal.
During her testimony, Galvin described the area that is in between the north and south sections.
“This portion in the center was part of the original tract which consisted of approximately 650 acres. Subsequent to previous approvals for this project, the center area, the environmentally constrained area, was subdivided and the county, the township and some other entities, I believe, have acquired those properties. The overall size of the tract (for the proposed development) is 355 acres,” Galvin said.
Speaking about the 226-acre north section, she said, “The north section that fronts on Perrineville Road would be a combination of single-family homes, townhouses and multi-family units; primarily single-family homes in this section. The single-family homes are in the westerly section, as well as a cul-de-sac that runs adjacent to Perrineville Road. The townhouses are in the center section … and the multifamily units are a series of apartment-style buildings that also cut along Perrineville Road,” Galvin said.
“The south parcel fronts along Cassville Road and is also a combination of townhouses, multi-family and single-family units; mostly townhouse units in the south section. Townhouses are in the westerly area that generally fronts on Cassville Road. There are six apartment buildings, multi-family unit buildings, and the single-family homes are along two longer cul-de-sacs in the eastern section of the south portion,” Galvin said.
Both sections of Jackson Parke will have community facilities.
“In the north section, (the community facility) is just off Perrineville Road, so as you come in the main entrance the community facility is right there. In the south section, off West Veterans Highway, the community facility is immediately (where people) enter the site,” Galvin said.
The community facilities will also include a pool, according to the testimony.
During his testimony, Verderese said he met with representatives from the Ocean County Engineer’s Office to discuss the project in a general way and to identify a study area. He produced a traffic impact study dated Nov. 30, 2018.
Verderese said the study area included the intersection of Perrineville and Reed roads; the intersection of Route 571 (Cassville Road) and Freehold Road; Route 571 and Perrineville Road; Route 571 and Thompson Bridge Road; and Route 571 and Route 528 (West Veterans Highway).
He also examined the proposed access point to the residential development on Perrineville Road and a connector road to Route 571.
Verderese said the most significant traffic would occur during the typical commuter peak hours. He said several of the intersections that would be impacted by the development are under the jurisdiction of Ocean County. The remaining intersections are under Jackson’s jurisdiction.