MANALAPAN — The Manalapan Planning Board has granted preliminary major subdivision approval to an applicant who plans to construct two homes on a Tennent Road property.
During a meeting on Aug. 25, Chairwoman Kathryn Kwaak, Daria D’Agostino, Todd Brown, Township Committeeman Jack McNaboe, Township Committeeman Barry Jacobson, Steven Kastell, John Castronovo and Richard Hogan heard the application filed by Anthony Mazzei regarding property at 314 Tennent Road.
The applicant was represented by attorney Salvatore Alfieri. Testimony on the application was provided by engineer John Ploskonka and planner McKinley Mertz.
During his testimony, Ploskonka described the 9.2-acre property that is west of Taylors Mills Road. One side of the parcel backs up to homes on Devon Drive.
He said the application proposes subdividing the property into two lots, with one home to be constructed on a 3-acre lot and a second home to be constructed on a 6-acre lot behind the first home.
Existing homes on Devon Drive are about 200 feet from the two proposed homes.
Alfieri said the two new homes would be owned by the same family.
Ploskonka said one driveway from Tennent Road will serve both residences. He said the property is encumbered by wetlands and environmental constraints.
“We need additional (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection) permits. We need preliminary approval (from the Planning Board) to go back to the DEP. … the Fire Prevention Bureau has approved the driveway,” he told the board members.
Ploskonka said the board’s approval would be subject to approval from the Monmouth County Planning Board. He noted that the county has plans to widen Tennent Road in the next several years.
During her testimony, Mertz explained why the applicant was seeking several variances and design waivers from the board.
The variances primarily involved lot frontage and the design waivers included the applicant’s request not to have to install a sidewalk on Tennent Road.
Mertz said the 9.2-acre property is 1,000 feet deep and said three homes could have been proposed at the location, but the applicant was seeking permission to construct two homes. She said homes are permitted in the zone.
The shared driveway reduces access points on Tennent Road, which Mertz described as a positive aspect of the application. She testified that emergency vehicles would be able to access both homes.
Mertz said no additional development would take place at the site and told the board that “the homes will provide significant living space and outdoor space without infringing on the environmentally sensitive areas” of the property.
The board’s planner, Jennifer Beahm, did not take exception to Mertz’s testimony and said there would be “minimum negative impact as a result of the relief (variances and design waivers) being requested.”
Testimony indicated each home will have a two-car garage, plus two parking spaces on the driveway, and an additional parking area for up to four cars at each home.
Details regarding certain issues of the application (i.e., mail delivery, garbage pickup) are expected to be addressed when the applicant returns to seek final approval, according to Alfieri.
A motion was made to grant preliminary major subdivision approval to the Anthony Mazzei application and all eight seated board members voted “yes” on the motion.
During the Aug. 25 meeting, the board was scheduled to hear an application from CMP of Manalapan Realty, LLC, which will seek amended site plan approval and permission to renovate 10,700 square feet of total floor space in a building at 363 Route 33 (Knob Hill Country Lanes) for indoor recreational uses.
The new uses in the bowling alley are expected to include laser tag, an arcade, virtual reality space and a party area. Variances will be required for insufficient parking at the site. The application was not heard on Aug. 25 and has been carried to the board’s Oct. 13 meeting.
In other Planning Board business, representatives of Woodward Estates Inc. have filed an application which seeks preliminary and final major subdivision approval and preliminary and final major site plan approval to construct a residential development with frontage on Woodward and Millhurst roads.
The 162-acre vacant property is in Manalapan’s Affordable Housing-Woodward Estates Overlay District, according to a legal notice that has been published by attorney Kenneth Pape, who represents the applicant.
The applicant is proposing to develop the property with 130 market rate townhouses, without age or income restrictions, and 56 age-restricted affordable senior housing apartments. The proposed senior housing apartments will be constructed in one three-story building, according to the legal notice.
The Woodwood Estates application is scheduled to be heard by the Planning Board at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 in the municipal building, 120 Route 522, Manalapan. The meeting is open to the public.