BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE — Joanne Figarola doesn’t think the concept of Showplace Farms expanding into a pet memorial park is that far-fetched.
Unlike the group of area residents that will appeal the township Zoning Board’s decision to grant a variance that would allow the creation of a pet cemetery and crematorium on Showplace Farms, Figarola doesn’t think it’s a bad idea.
Figarola, a Millstone resident for the past 10 years, frequents the 140-acre farm between Conover Road and Route 33 almost every week with her dog, Meatloaf.
“It’s an incredible place,” Figarola said. “Everything they do there is state of the art.”
Figarola’s Rottweiler, 10, swims at Showplace Farms in what was once a pool for horses.
“Meatloaf has been using the facility for over eight years, since he had one of his legs operated on,” Figarola said.
Showplace Farms, a horse farm, opened its horse pool to dogs in 1996, according to Figarola. The pool, which is round, has a ramp and is 12 feet deep.
“In the early days, it was just open for dogs in need,” Figarola said. “Now, the horses have limited swimming time. The farm even has power dryers and equipment for paralyzed dogs.”
The Showplace Farms dog pool is open seven days a week. Dogs can swim in the pool for $15 per scheduled 30-minute session.
“A special team of people supervises the dogs,” Figarola said. “There’s even special services for dogs with paralysis, [dogs that are] amputees and dogs with various illnesses.”
Figarola said Showplace Farms employees surveyed some dog owners about the potential creation of a pet cemetery.
“At first, I thought it was going to be a dangerous thing,” Figarola said. “Then I talked to the farm owners and researched crematoriums on the Internet. Now, I’m all for it.”
Figarola called the farm’s possible expansion into a pet memorial park “a rainbow bridge for any animal lover.”
“If they run this facility as cleanly and efficiently as they do the dog pool, it will be beautiful,” Figarola said. “Anyone who visited the farm would see that it seems natural that these people would offer full services and care for animals throughout their entire life span.”
In response to those appealing the Zoning Board’s decision, Figarola said she understands the fears people might have.
“I know area residents want to protect the community from the harmful effects of big business,” Figarola said, “but they should see for themselves that Showplace Farms isn’t just about business. It’s about more than that.”
“I don’t have a vested interest,” she said. “I just love what they’re providing and if they want to expand on that, I think that’s beautiful.”
According to Showplace Farms owner Howard Schoor, of Holmdel, the pet memorial park could generate more than $30,000 in annual taxes for the township and be one of the top five ratables in the town.
Showplace Farms, a standardbred training center, is already the largest taxpaying entity in the township by a factor of two, Schoor said. Assessed at almost $3.3 million, Showplace Farms generates more than $70,000 in annual property taxes, according to Schoor.
Jolene Conoszenti, who lives in the Galloping Hills residential development near Showplace Farms, said she’s trying to stop Showplace Farms owners from creating an animal incinerator on their property.
“If enough people get involved, we could stop this from happening,” Conoszenti said.
Conoszenti is one of about 50 residents involved with www.noincinerator.com, an Internet-based, nonprofit organization that filed an appeal with the Township Committee.
The group hired an attorney, Lewis Goldshore, to assist in identifying reasons why the committee should reverse the Zoning Board’s action, according to the organization’s press release.
Their legal objections to the Zoning Board proceedings include failure to properly notify residents; improper rezoning of a parcel of land; failure to show that the project would be inherently beneficial; and failure to prove the site suitable for a pet cemetery/crematorium and without substantial detriment to the public good.
The Township Committee will hold a public hearing on the issue at 7:30 p.m. on May 18, according to Mayor Elias Abilheira.
The township’s Zoning Board unanimously voted 7-0 to grant a variance on Feb. 23 that would allow for the construction of a pet memorial park on Showplace Farms, located between Route 33 and Conover Road.
If granted final site plan approval by the township’s Planning Board, Showplace Memorial Pet Park would include a pet cemetery and crematorium on 16.5 acres of the 140-acre Showplace Farms.