By KAREN RAPOLLA
Staff Writer
Middletown Township held a community visioning session for Middletown’s Route 36 corridor, the main artery in the township’s Bayshore area.
The session, which was held on Dec. 6 at the Middletown Arts Center, attracted attendees representing each of the four Bayshore area communities.
The interactive session, attended by township officials, project consultants, property owners, businesses and other interested parties, afforded the opportunity to share feedback, brainstorming ideas, visions and solutions, with the goal to improve the Bayshore area for both the property owners and businesses along this major state highway that is in need of revitalization.
They are anticipating that new design standards and enabling codes and regulations can be adapted, which will encourage and incentivize business and property owners to reinvest in the area.
“The purpose of this visioning session is for gathering input, suggestions and ideas from the community,” said Middletown Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger.
He was encouraged by the good turnout.
“The Township values the input of each community, and we are hopeful that a vision of the future for Bayshore properties and businesses along Route 36 can be developed, enhance the area for everyone, while respecting the character of the existing neighborhoods,” Scharfenberger said.
The session, attended by approximately 60 people who worked in groups, was facilitated by Maser Consulting P.A. of Middletown, the project’s consultant. The goal of the session was to help in the development of a set of “Route 36 Design Standards,” which will respect the character of the neighborhoods along Middletown’s Route 36 corridor and encourage business and property owners to reinvest in the area.
The four communities along the Route 36 corridor in Middletown Township are North Middletown, Port Monmouth, Belford and Leonardo. Funding for this project comes from a Sandy Planning Assistance Grant.
Session attendees Cheryl McClelland and Donna Tactikos — Leonardo business owners of Sebastian’s Hair-Em — would like to see the area’s parks upgraded and the marina expanded.
Tactikos added, “We would like to see a hotel possibly attached to a nice restaurant.”
Among those representing the Port Monmouth community, Stu Young, owner of Township Hardware, a family business since the early 1960s, is looking forward to seeing the area revitalized and hoping that the town will work with their suggestions and make it happen.
Carl Rathjen, a member of the Middletown Planning Board and longtime Belford resident, said, “Many people want to live in a location where they do not have a large property to maintain and is easily accessible to New York. Belford may someday be the Jersey Shore’s Hoboken — we have the ferry already.”
Sandra Vazquez, vice president of Ideal Beach Community Association, had suggestions for consideration that would help revitalize the North Middletown community.
“[It’s] very exciting to attend Middletown’s ‘Design Plan Study Meeting’ this evening — it is great community participation. Good to see positive action that continues in the Middletown communities in partnership with its administration,” she said.
In the session, the primary challenges that make it more difficult for businesses to thrive there were outlined. These included the relatively small size of most of the properties (as compared to other state highways such as Routes 35 and 9), the historic wetness that some of the commercial properties have to contend with and the smaller geographic area that is proximate to the highway. Another considering factor is the volume of traffic during summertime versus other seasons.
The Route 36 corridor through Middletown Township is a direct route from the north and west to the Jersey Shore and small- to mid-sized businesses serving primarily the Bayshore region. That was considered a positive factor overall in attracting businesses.
The Bayshore communities are a mixture of residential and commercial uses. The commercial uses includes former and existing auto dealerships, medium-sized shopping centers and strip malls, banks and small retail and professional offices.
There are currently a number of vacant buildings and properties as well. Workshop attendees provided comments and suggestions for improvements, such as which types of new businesses they hope will revitalize the area, and helped in identifying community enhancements for residents, such as improved parks, safer crossways and nice restaurants.